SRLF 


UP;  A  <r 

rv  OF 

•<NIA 
SAN  DIEGO 


presented  to  the 

LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  •  SAN  DIF.GO 
by 

FRIENDS  OF  THE  LIBRARY 

Dr.  John  Comstock 


donor 


SRIF 

PR 


r: 


PAOLO  &  FRANCESCA 


A  TRAGEDY  IN  FOUR  ACTS 


BY 


STEPHEN   PHILLIPS 


O  Lasso  ! 

Quanti  dolci  pensier,  quanta  disto 
Menb  cos  tore  al  doloroso  passo 

DANTE 


NEW   YORK 

DODD,  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 

MCMXXVI 


Copyright,  1897,  by 
DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 

Copyright,  1905,  by 
DODD,  MEAD  &  COMPANY 


PRINTED  IN  U.    S.    A. 


TO 

GEORGE    ALEXANDER 

THIS   PLAY   IS  DEDICATED 

BY  THE  AUTHOR 


CHARACTERS 


GIOVANNI  MALATESTA 

("Lo  SCIANCATO   ) 
PAOLO  ("  IL  BELLO") 


VALENTINO  . 

CORRADO      . 

LUIGI  .... 

MARCO 

PULCI  .... 

FRANCESCA  DA  RIMINI 


LUCREZIA  DEGL*  ONESTI 

COSTANZA    .        . 

TESSA 

NITA  .... 

ANGELA 


MIRRA 


Tyrant  of  Rimini 

Brother  to  Giovanni,  and 
Captain  of  Mercenaries 
in  the  service  of  Florence 

>     Officers  of  Paolo's  Company 

A  Soldier 

A  Drug-seller 

Bride  of  Giovanni,  and  Daugh- 
ter of  Guido  da  Polentt. 
Tyrant  of  Ravenna 

Cousin  to  Giovanni 

Kinswoman  to  Francesca 

Daughter  to  Pulci 

Maid  to  Francesca 

A  Blind  and  Aged  Servant  of 
the  Malatesta 

A  Peasant  Girl 


Guests,  Couriers,  Soldiers,  Customers  of  Pulci 
Servants,  &c. 


PAOLO   AND    FRANCESCA 

SCENE. — A  gloomy  Hall  in  the  Malatesta  Castle  at 
Rimini,  hung  with  weapons  and  instruments 
of  the  Chase ;  GUESTS  and  CITIZENS  assembled, 
•with  SOLDIERS,  HUNTSMEN  and  RETAINERS; 
hounds  held  in  leash.  As  the  scene  opens  a 
trumpet  is  blown  outside.  Enter  GIOVANNI 
hurriedly  down  a  gallery  to  the  Hall  with 
papers  in  his  hands  He  pauses  on  the 
steps. 

Gio.  Peace  to  this  house  of  Rimini  henceforth  ! 
Kinsmen,  although  the  Ghibelline  is  fallen 
And  lies  out  on  the  plains  of  Trentola, 
Still  have  we  foes  untrampled,  wavering  friends. 
Therefore,  on  victory  to  set  a  seal, 


12  PAOLO    AND   FRANCESCA 

To-day  I  take  to  wife  Ravenna's  child, 

Daughter  of  great  Polenta,  our  ally; 

Between  us  an  indissoluble  bond. 

Deep  in  affairs  my  brother  I  despatched, 

My  Paolo — who  is  indeed  myself — 

For    scarcely     have     we     breathed    a    separate 

thought — 
To  bring  her  on  the  road  to  Rimini. 

\_A  noise  of  falling  chains  is  heard. 
I  hear  them  at  the  gates ;  the  chains  have  fallen. 

The  doors  at  end  of  gallery  are  thrown  open.  Enter 
oiit  of  sunlight  PAOLO,  leading  FRANCESCA  by 
the  hand,  followed  by  LADIES  and  SQUIRES. 
Flowers  are  thrown  over  them.  FRANCESCA 
bends  low  to  GIOVANNI,  who  raises  her  itp. 

Rise  up,  Francesca,  and  unveil  your  face. 

\He  kisses  her  on  the  forehead. 
Kinsmen,  and  you  that  follow  with  my  brid^ 
Vou  see  me  beat  with  many  blows,  death-pal 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  13 

With  gushing  of  much  blood,  and  deaf  with  war—- 
You see  me,  and  I  languish  for  a  calm. 
I  ask  no  great  thing  of  the  skies ;  I  ask 
Henceforth  a  quiet  breathing,  that  this  child, 
Hither  all  dewy  from  her  convent  fetched, 
Shall  lead  me  gently  down  the  slant  of  life. 
Here  then  I  sheathe  my  sword ;  and  fierce  must  be 
That  quarrel  where  again  I  use  the  steel. 

\A  murmur  of  approbation.    He  turns 

to  FRANCESCA. 

Tell  me,  Francesca;  can  you  be  content 
To  live  the  quiet  life  which  I  propose? 
Where,  though  you  miss  the  violent  joys  of  youth, 
Yet  will  I  cherish  you  more  carefully 
Than  might  a  younger  lover  of  your  years. 

FRANC.  My  lord,  my  father  gave  me  to  you :  I 
Am  innocent  as  yet  of  this  great  life ; 
My  only  care  to  attend  the  holy  bell, 
To  sing  and  to  embroider  curiously : 
And  as  through  glass  I  view  the  windy  world. 


14  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Sweet  is  the  stillness  you  ensure  to  me 
Whose  days  have  been  so  still :  and  yet  I  fear 
To  be  found  wanting  in  so  great  a  house  : 
I  lack  experience  in  such  governing. 
So  if  at  any  time  I  seem  to  offend  you, 
Will  you  impute  it  to  my  youth  !     But  I 
Shall  never  fail  in  duty  willingly. 

Gio.  I  like  that  coldness  in  you,  my  Francesco, 
And  to  my  cousin  I  will  make  you  known. 
Widowed  and  childless,  she  has  ruled  till  now 
This  fort  of  soldiers,  a  rough  hostelry, 
Which  henceforth  is  your  home ;  since  I  remember 
She  was  my  friend  :  has  often  cooled  a  rashness, 
Which  I  inherit :  lean  at  first  on  her. 

Luc.  Francesca,  as  your  husband  says,  we  two 
Have  long  been  friends ;  but  friendship  faints  in 

love, 

And  since  through  inexperience  you  may  err, 
My  place  is  near  you ;  to  advise  and  guide 
Suits  with  my  years. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  15 

COSTANZA.  O  Lord  of  Rimini ! 

With  sighs  we  leave  her  as  we  leave  a  child. 
Be  tender  with  her,  even  as  God  hath  been  ! 
She  hath  but  wondered  up  at  the  white  clouds ; 
Hath    just    spread    out    her    hands    to    the    warm 

sun; 
Hath  heard  but  gentle  words  and  cloister  sounds. 

[GIOVANNI  bows  to  her. 
Gio.  Friends,   you  will  go   with    us    to    church; 

till  then 
Walk   where  you  please — yet  one   word    more — be 

sure 

That,  though  I  sheathe  the  sword,  I  am  not  tamed. 
What  I  have  snared,  in  that  I  set  my  teeth 
And  lose  with  agony ;  when  hath  the  prey 
Writhed  from  our  mastiff-fangs? 

Luc.  Giovanni,  loose 

Francesca's  hands — the  tears  are  in  her  eyes. 

Gio.     Well,   well,   till    church-time   then.     Paolo, 
stay! 


16  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

[Exeunt  LUCREZIA,  GUESTS  and  RE- 
TAINERS; NITA  and  attendant  LADIES 
remaining  in  the  background.  GIO- 
VANNI, PAOLO,  and  FRANCESCA  come 
down. 

These  delegates  from  Pesaro,  Francesca, 
Expect  my  swift  decision  on  the  tax. 
Then  will  you  think  me  negligent  or  cold 
If  to  my  brother  I  confide  you  still, 
A  moment — and  no  more?  [Exit  GIOVANNI. 

FRANC.  O,  Paolo, 

Who  were  they  that  have  lived  within  these  walls? 
PAO.     Why  do  you  ask? 

FRANC.  It  is  not  sign  nor  souncf  ; 

Only  it  seemeth  difficult  to  breathe, 
It  is  as  though  I  battled  with  this  air. 
PAO.  You  are  not  sad? 

FRANC.  What  is  it  to  be  sad? 

Nothing  hath  grieved  me  yet  but  ancient  woes, 
Sea-perils,  or  some  long-ago  farewell, 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  17 

Or  the  last  sunset  cry  of  wounded  kings. 
I  have  wept  but  on  the  pages  of  a  book, 
And  I  have  longed  for  sorrow  of  my  own. 

PAO.    Come    nothing    nearer     than    such    far-off 

tears 

Or  peril  from  the  pages  of  a  book  • 
And,  therefore,  sister,  am  I  glad  that  you 
Are  wedded  unto  one  so  full  of  shelter. 
Constant  is  he,  and  steel-true  till  the  grave. 
For  me — to-night  I  must  be  gone. 

FRANC.  To-night ! 

Ah,  Paolo,  go  not  away  so  soon  ! 
You  brought  me  hither — leave  me  not  at  once, 
Not  now 

PAO.  Francesca ! 

FRANC.  I  am  still  a  child. 

I  feel  that  to  my  husband  I  could  go 
Kiss  him  good-night,  or  sing  him  to  his  sleep, 
And  there  an  end. 

PAO.  Sister,  I  would  that  I—— 


i8  PAOLO    AND   FRANCESCA 

FRANC.  Can     we     not     pky     together    a     brief 

while? 

Stay,  then,  a  little  !  Soon  I  shall  be  used 
To  my  grave  place  and  duty — but  not  yet. 
Stay,  then,  a  little  ! 

PAO.  Here  my  brother  comes. 

Enter  GIOVANNI. 

Gio.  Stand    either    side     of     me — you    whom    I 

love. 

I'd  have  you  two  as  dear  now  to  each  other 
As  both  of  you  to  me.     We  are,  Francesca, 
A  something  more  than  brothers — fiercest  friends ; 
Concordia  was  our  mother  named,  and  ours 
Is  but  one  heart,  one  honour,  and  one  death. 
Any  that  came  between  us  I  would  kill. 

FRANC.  Sir,    I    will    love    him :     is    he    not    my 
brother? 

[NiTA  advances,  with  attendant  LADIES. 
NITA.  My  lady,  it  draws  late. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  19 

Gio.  Go  with  her,  child. 

[Exeunt  FRANCESCA,  NITA  and  LADIES. 

Gio.   \To  PAOLO.]     You  have   set   a  new  seal  on 

an  ancient  love, 
Bringing  this  bride. 

PAO.  And  having  brought  her,  here 

My  office  ends.     I'll  say  farewell  to-night. 

Gio.  This  very  night ! 

PAO.  I'll  go  with  you  to  church ; 

But  from  the  after-feast  I  ask  excuse. 

Gio.  I  do  not  understand. 

PAO.  Brother,  believe 

I  do  not  hasten  thus  without  deep  cause. 

Gio.  Is  there  such  haste  indeed  ? 

PAO.  Such  haste  indeed  ! 

Gio.  [Taking  his  hand^\  Come,  Paolo,  we  two  have 

never  held 

A  mystery  between  us — tell  me  out ! 
Harsh  am  I,  but  to  you  was  ever  gentle. 
What  is  the  special  reason  of  your  going  ? 


20  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

PAD.   The    troop  for  Florence  which  I   mustered 

here 
Should  spur  at  daybreak. 

Gio.  There  is  no  such  haste. 

What  are  you  holding  from  me  ? 

PAO.  Ah,  enough ! 

Gio.   What  sudden  face   hath   made   this  hall  so 

dark? 

Come,  then,  'tis  natural — walk  to  and  fro 
And  tell  me — ah  !  some  lady  you  beheld 
There  at  Ravenna  in  Francesca's  train  ! 
Was  it  not  so  ? 

PAO.  Urge  me  no  more  to  words. 

Gio.    What   woman    draws    you    thus    away  from 

me  ? 
PAO.     No   woman,  brother,  draws   me    from    this 

house. 

Gio.     You  like  not  then  my  marriage .'  —  but  in- 
deed, 
No  marriage  can  dissolve  the  bond  between  us. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  21 

Here  you  are  free  as  ever  in  the  house — 
Once  more,  what  is  the  reason  of  your  going  ? 

PAO.   Brother,  'tis  nothing  that  hath  chanced,  but 

rather 
That  which  may  chance  if  here  I  am  detained. 

Gio.    Darker  and  yet   more  dark.     Now  speak  it 
out. 

PAO.  I  cannot. 

Gio.  Paolo,  this  is  an  ill 

Beginning  of  my  marriage,  and  I  loathe 
That    you    should    put    me    off.      We     three,    I 

thought — 

We  three  together — tempt  me  not  to  rage  ! 
And  as  your  elder  I  command  your  stay, 
Your  presence  both  at  church  and  at  the  feast. 
You  would  affront  Francesca  publicly  ? 

PAO.  Giovanni,  'tis  enough,  I  stay.     Forgive  me. 

Gio.  Brother,  this  is  our  first  and  last  dispute. 
Now  leave  me  to  these  papers.      [PAOLO  is  going.] 
Paolo, 


22  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

You  go  with  me  heart-whole  into  this  marriage  ? 
Give  me  your  hand  again  ! 

PAO.  There  is  my  hand. 

[Exit  PAOLO.    GIOVANNI  unfolds  papers  and 

reads. 

Gio.  "  In  Pesaro  sedition  !     Andrea  Sarti 
Is  urgent " 

Enter  LUCREZIA.     She  touches  him  on  the  arm. 

Luc.  Pardon  me — you  sit  alone. 

While  there  is  time,  I  have  stolen  in  on  you 
To  speak  my  dearest  wishes  for  this  marriage, 
And  in  a  manner,  too,  old  friend,  farewell. 

Gio.  Farewell  ? 

Luc.  And  in  a  manner  'tis  farewell. 

Gio.  This  marriage  is  political. 

Luc.  No  more  ? 

Gio.  And  yet  since  I  have  seen  Francesca,  I 
Have  fallen  into  a  trance.     It  seems,  indeed, 
That  I  am  bringing  into  this  dark  air 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  23 

£  pureness  that  shall  purge  these  ancient  halls. 

Luc.  Watch,    then,    this    pureness :    fend  it  fear- 
fully. 

Gio.    I    took     her  dreaming    from    her    convent 
trees. 

Luc.  And  for  that  reason  tremble  at  her  more  ! 
Old  friend,  remember  that  we  two  are  passed 
Into  the  grey  of  life  :  but  O,  beware 
This  child  scarce  yet  awake  upon  the  world  ! 
Dread  her  first  ecstasy,  if  one  should  come 
That  should  appear  to  her  half-opened  eyes 
Wonderful  as  a  prince  from  fairyland 
Or  venturing  through  forests  toward  her  face — 
No — do  not  stride  about  the  room — your  limp 
Is  evident  the  more — come,  sit  by  me 
As    you    were    wont    to    sit.     Youth    goes    toward 
youth. 

Gio.  What  peril  can  be  here?     In  Rimini? 

Luc.    I    have   but    said    and    say,    "  Youth    goes 
toward  youth," 


24  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

And  she  shall  never  prize,  as  I  do  still, 
Your  savage  courage  and  deliberate  force, 
Even  your  mounded  back  and  sullen  gait. 
Gio.  Lucrezia  !  this  is  that  old  bitterness. 
Luc.    Bitterness  —  am     I     bitter  ?       Strange,    O 

strange  ! 
How    else  ?       My    husband    dead     and     childless 

left, 
My      thwarted      woman  -  thoughts      have      inward 

turned, 

And  that  vain  milk  like  acid  in  me  eats. 
Have  I  not  in  my  thought  trained  little  feet 
To  venture,  and  taught  little  lips  to  move 
Until  they  shaped  the  wonder  of  a  word? 
I  am  long  practised.     O  those  children,  mine  ! 
Mine,  doubly  mine  :  and  yet  I  cannot  touch  them, 
I  cannot  see  them,  hear  them — Does  great  God 
Expect  I  shall  clasp  air  and  kiss  the  wind 
For  ever?     And  the  budding  cometh  on, 
The  burge»*ving,  the  cruel  flowering : 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  25 

At  night  the  quickening  splash  of  rain,  at  dawn 

That  muffled  call  of  babes  how  like  to  birds ; 

And     I     amid    these     sights     and      sounds      must 

starve — 

I,  with  so  much  to  give,  perish  of  thrift ! 
Omitted  by  His  casual  dew  ! 

Gio.  Well,  well, 

You    are    spared    much :    children    can    wring    the 

heart. 
Luc.  Spared !  to  be   spared  what  I  was  born   to 

have  ! 

I  am  a  woman,  and  this  very  flesh 
Demands  its  natural  pangs,  its  rightful  throes, 
And  I  implore  with  vehemence  these  pains. 
I  know  that  children  wound  us,  and  surprise 
Even  to  utter  death,  till  we  at  last 
Turn  from  a  face  to  flowers  :  but  this  my  heart 
Was  ready  for  these  pangs,  and  had  foreseen. 
O  !  but  I  grudge  the  mother  her  last  look 
Upon  the  coffined  form — that  pang  is  rich— 


26  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Envy  the  shivering  cry  when  gravel  falls. 

And    all     these     maimed      wants     and      thwarted 

thoughts, 

Eternal  yeanling,  answered  by  the  wind, 
Have  dried  in  me  belief  and  love  and  fear. 
I  am  become  a  danger  and  a  menace, 
A  wandering  fire,  a  disappointed  force, 
A  psril — do  you  hear,  Giovanni  ? — O  ! 
It  is  such  souls  as  mine  that  go  to  swell 
The  childless  cavern  cry  of  the  barren  sea. 
Or  make  that  human  ending  to  night-wind. 
Why  have  I  bared  myself  to  you? — I  know  not, 
Unless,      indeed,     this     marriage — yes,     this     mar 

riage — 

Near  now,  is't  not? — So  near  made  me  cry  out. 
Ah  !  she  will  bring  a  sound  of  pattering  feet ! 
But  now  this  message — and  those  papers.     I 
Must  haste  to  see  the  banquet-table  spread — 
Your  bride  is  yet  so  young.  [Exit  LUCREZIA. 

Gio.  [.Reads.']  "Antonio 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  27 

And  Conti  urge  it  is  impolitic 

To      lay     another    load "  —  Youth     goes      toward 

youth  ! — 

"  On  murmuring  Pesaro  " — in  Rimini  ! — 
"  Foresee  revolt."     Here  in  the  house  all's  safe. 

Enter  SERVANT,  leading  in  blind  ANGELA. 

SER.  My  Lord,  blind  Angela  entreats  that  she 
Once  more  may  touch  you  ere  you  go  to  church. 

Gio.  Give  me  your  hand,  old  nurse. 
\_He  kneels  J\  Will  you  not  bless  me  ? 
You  will  not  ?     And  your  tears  fall  down  on  me  ? 

ANG.  My  son,  for  are  you  not  my  very  son  ? 
I  gave  you  milk  :  from  me  you  sucked  in  life, 
And  still  my  breast  is  thrilling  from  your  lips. 

Gio.  Well,  well,  then  ! 

ANG.  So  that  now  my  very  flesh 

Must  quail  at  the  approach  of  woe  to  you. 

Gio.  The  drops  stand  on  your  forehead  !      What 
is  this  ? 


28  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

ANG.  I  never  trembled  for  you  till  this  hour. 

Gio.  What  is  it  that  you  fear  ? 

\He  kisses  her  hand. 

ANG.  Now  your  lips  touch 

And  I  begin  to  feel  more  surely,  child. 
Ah  !  but  a  juice  too  pure  hath  now  been  poured 
In  a  dark  ancient  wine  :  and  the  cup  seethes. 

Gio.  Speak  clearer  to  me. 

ANG.  Closer  lay  your  head. 

Ne'er  in  the  battle  have  I  feared  for  you. 
What    is    the   strange,   soft    thing   which   you   have 

brought 
Into  our  life  ? 

Gio.  Francesca,  do  you  mean  ? 

Why  do  you  clutch  my  arm  ?     What  is't  you  see  ? 

ANG.  A  kind    of    twilight    struggles    through   my 

dark. 
Be  near  me  !     Soon  it  seems  that  I  shall  know. 

Gio.  Upon   what   scene   are   those   blind   eyes  so 
fixed  ? 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  29 

ANG.  A  place  of  leaves  :  and  ah  !  how  still  it  is  ! 
She  sits  alone  amid  great  roses. 

Gio.  She  ? 

ANG.  Who  is  he  that  steals  in  upon  your  bride  ? 

Gio.  Angela  ! 

ANG.  And  no  sound  in  all  the  world  ! 

Gio.  What  doth  he  there  ? 

ANG.  He  reads  out  of  a  book. 

There  comes  a  murmuring  as  of  far-off  things. 
Nearer  he  drew  and  kissed  her  on  the  lips. 

Gio.  His  face,  mother,  his  face  ? 

ANG.  Tis  dark  again. 

Gio.  His  face  ?  that  I   may  know  him   when  we 
meet. 

ANG.  His    face    was    dim  :    a    twilight    struggles 

back. 

I  see  two  lying  dead  upon  a  bier — 
Slain  suddenly,  and  in  each  other's  arms. 

Gio.  Are  they  those  two  that  in  the  roses  kissed  ? 

ANG.  Those  two  ! 


30  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Gio.  Then  quickly  tell  me  of  him  ! 

ANG.  Ah  ! 

Again  'tis  dark.     The  twilight,  as  it  seemed, 
With  difficulty  came,  and  might  not  stay. 
My  son,  art  thou  still  here  ? 

Gio.  Why  do  your  lips 

Move  fast  and  yet  no  words  find  out  their  way  ? 
What  are  they  vainly  shaping  ? 

ANG.  Who  hath  now 

Ta'en  hold  on  me  ? 

Gio.  Speak,  speak,  then  ! 

ANG.  He  shall  be 

Not  far  to  seek  :  yet  perilous  to  find. 
Unwillingly  he  comes  a  wooing  :   she 
Unwillingly  is  wooed  :    yet  shall  they  woo. 
His  kiss  was  on  her  lips  ere  she  was  born. 

Gio.  Who  used  thy  mouth  then,  and  so  strangely 

spoke  ? 
O,  this  is  folly  !     Yet  it  weighs  me  down 

\Trumpets  are  heard. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  31 

ANG.  What  is  that  sound? 
Gio.  My  marriage  trumpets  ! 

ANG.  Here 

Still  let  me  sit,  and  hear  the  folk  pass  by. 

Enter  from  one  side  KINSMEN  and  RETAINERS, 
PAOLO  at  their  head.  GIOVANNI  joins  him, 
putting  his  arm  round  his  neck. 

Gio.  Paolo,  shall  we  walk  together  still  ? 

[Exit  marriage  procession  of  KINSMEN, 
&c.,  led  by  GIOVANNI  and  PAOLO. 
Meanwhile  enter  from  the  other  side 
FRANCESCA,  LUCREZIA,  and  attend- 
ant LADIES.  FRANCESCA,  in  passing, 
pauses  and  offers  trinket  to  ANGELA, 
who  shudders,  letting  it  fall.  Exeunt 
all  but  ANGELA,  who  remains  staring 
before  her. 

CURTAIN 


ACT   II 


SCENE. — A  Hal!  in  the  Patace. 
A  week  elapses  between  Acts  I,  and  II, 

GIOVANNI  seated  with  papers;  PAOLO,  in 
armour,  pacing  up  and  down. 

Gio.  You  chafe  to  go  ? 

PAO.  I  languish  for  the  road, 

The  open  road,  and  chime  of  mailed  feet. 

Gio.  And  still  I  marvel  at  such  anxious  haste. 

PAO.  My   troop  is  mustered  now :  six   miles  from 

hence 
I  take  command  for  Florence. 

Gio.  Well,  I'll  urge 

Your  stay  no  more ;  yet  I  suspect  no  less. 

PAO.  What  ? 

Gio.  That   no  soldier-business  lures    you 

hence. 


36  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

PAO.  Brother,  again  ! 

Gio.  I'll  laugh  at  you  no  more. 

\_He  rises  and  speaks  slowly* 
I  have  a  deeper  cause  to  wish  your  stay 
Than  when  I  urged  it  last. 

PAO.  A  deeper  cause  ? 

Gio.  I  have  been  warned  of  peril  to  Francesca. 

PAO.  Peril! 

Gio.  Blind  Angela  in  vision  saw 

One  stealing  in  upon  my  wife  to  woo  her. 
Ah  !  you,  too,  start !     I  am  not  then  the  fool 
I  call  myself  to  be  so  burdened  down — 
You  too  it  touches. 

PAO.  'Twas  a  moment's  fear. 

Gio.  \Taking  his  hand."]  Such  sympathy  is  ours 

so  close  are  we, 
That  what  I  suffer  you  straightway  must  feel. 

PAO.  What   manner,   then,    of    man   was  he   that 
wooed  ? 

Gio.  Ah,  there  !  his  face  was  dim.     O,  Paolo  1 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  37 

If  but  a  moment  I  could  see  it  clear, 
Look  in  his  eyes  as  into  yours,  and  know. 
Well,  this  is  folly  ! — can  be  reasoned  off — 
And  yet  it  troubles  me.     Now  since  I  must 
Surely  be  absent  on  affairs,  I  could 
More  easily  Francesca  leave  behind 
If  you  were  by  her  side. 

PAO.  If  I  ? 

Gio.  And  whom 

Than  my  own  brother  could  I  better  leave  ? 

PAO.  Ah,     brother,    such     a     charge     I     c.-nnot 

well 

Support.     If  this  thing  happened  by  some  chance, 
I  in  the  house,  you  absent — 'tis  a  duty 
I  would  not  willingly  take  up. 

Gio.  See  how 

You  cool  to  me. 

PAO,  Set  me  to  any  service ; 

Despatch  me  into  peril — ask  my  life. 
I'll  give  away  my  being  and  breath  for  you. 


38  PAOLO    AND   FRANCESCA 

Giovanni,  you  doubt  not,  you  cannot  doubt, 
My  love  ? 

Gio.          I  must  not,  else  I  should  go  mad, 
So  dear  you  are  to  me. 

PAO.  And  he,  this  wooer, 

If  he  should  wrong  Francesca  any  way 
My  dagger  to  his  heart  were  swift  as  yours. 

Gio,  I  know  that  well. 

Enter  FRANCESCA. 

Francesca,  whence  come  you  ? 
FRANC.  From  fostering  garden  flowers. 

Gio.  Paolo 

Is  set  on  going.     I  have  urged,  implored— 
He  has  no  answer,  only  he  will  go. 

Enter  a  SERVANT  hurriedly. 

SER.  A  courier,  sir,  spurred  out  of  Pesaro ! 
.  So  I  expected  !     I  will  come  to  him. 

[Exit  GIOVANNI  hurriedly  and  SERVANT. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  39 

FRANC.  \To  PAOLO.]  Will  you  not  stay  ?    My  hus- 
band wishes  it — 

My  husband  and  your  brother — so  he  speaks 
Twice  with  each  word. 

PAO.  My  brother  and  myself 

Have  spoken  of  this,  and  yet  you  see  I  go. 

FRANC.  If  for  his    sake    you  will   not  stay,  per- 
haps 

Even  for  mine  you  will  a  little  linger. 
All  here  are  kind  to  me,  all  grave  and  kind, 
But  O,  I  have  a  fluttering  up  toward  joy, 
Lightness  and  laughter,  and  a  need  of  singing. 
You  are  more  near  my  age — you  understand. 
Where  are  you  vulnerable,  Paolo  ? 
You  are  so  cased  in  steel — is't  here  ?  or  here  ? 
Lay  that  sad  armour  by — that  steel  cuirass. 
See,  then  !  I  will  unloose  it  with  my  hands. 
I  cannot  loose  it — there's  some  trick  escapes  me. 

PAO.  Francesca,    think    not   I   can    lightly    leave 
you 


40  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

And  go  out  from  your  face  into  the  dark. 
Ah  !  can  you  think  it  is  not  sweet  to  breathe 
That  delicate  air  and  flowery  sigh  of  you, 
The  stealing  May  and  mystery  of  your  spirit  ? 
Am  I  not  flesh  and  blood  ? — am  I  not  young  ? 
Is  it  easy,  then,  for  youth  to  run  from  youth  ? 
And  yet  from  you  I  run.     Or  are  we  swift 
To  fly  delight  ? — And  yet  from  you  I  fly. 
What  shall  I  say  ? 

FRANC.  Sweet  are  your  words,  but  dark. 

Is  beauty  to  be  dreaded,  then,  and  shunned  ? 

PAO.  How    shall    I    tell    you    and    sow    in    you 

thoughts 
Which  are  not  there  as  yet  ? 

\JHe  moves  to  go. 

FRANC.  And  you  will  go  ? 

Will  you  not  say  farewell  ?     Will  you  not  kiss 
My  hand  at  least  ?     Why  do  you  tremble,  then  ? 
Is  even  the  touch  of  me  so  full  of  peril  ? 

PAO.  O  !  of  immortal  peril ! 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  41 

FRANC.  But  how  strange  ! 

You  dread  this  little  hand  ?     O,  wonderful ! 
Your  face  is  white,  and  yet  you  have  killed  men  ! 

PAO.  Francesca ! 

FRANC.  Do  you  fear  to  look  in  my  eyes, 

You  so  ensteeled  and  clanging  in  your  stride? 
And  you  could  crush  my  life  out  with  your  hand. 
O,  this  new  peril  that  I  have  about  me  ! 

PAO.  Child! 

FRANC.  And  this  woe  that  comes  from  me 

to  men  ! 

And  I  can  stay  your  going,  can  I  not  ? 
Look  up  !  and  with  a  smile  I'll  bind  you  fast. 

PAO.  Sister,  I  suffer  !  now  at  last  farewell ! 

\Exit  PAOLO,  tearing  himself  away. 

FRANC.  {Running  to   a   mirror.']     Where   is    the 

glass  ?     O,  face  unknown  and  strange  ! 
Slight  face,  and  yet  the  cause  of  woe  to  men  ! 

Enter  NITA. 
Nita,  did  any  pass  you  on  the  stair  ? 


42  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

NITA.  Lord  Paolo  came  by  me,  all  in  steel. 

FRANC.  Nita,  he  trembled  to  look  up  at  me  ! 
And  when  I  nearer  came  all  pale  he  grew. 
And  when  I  smiled  he  suffered,  as  it  seemed ; 
And  then  I  smiled  again  :  for  it  was  strange. 
Is't  wicked  such  sweet  cruelty  to  use  ? 
O  !  and  that  bluer  blue — that  greener  green  ! 

NITA.  My  Lady,   there's   no  help.      And   for  my 

sake 

Tall  men  have  fought  and  lost  bright  blood  for  me. 

[She  looks  in  the  glass. 
We  cannot  choose ;  our  faces  madden  men  ! 

FRANC.  And  yet,  Nita,  and  yet — can  any  tell 
How  sorrow  first  doth  come  ?     Is  there  a  step, 
A  light  step,  or  a  dreamy  drip  of  oars  ? 
Is  there  a  stirring  of  leaves,  or  ruffle  of  wings  ? 
For  it  seems  to  me  that  softly,  without  hand, 
Surely  she  touches  me. 

NITA.  O,  such  as  you 

Are  from  their  birth  uplifted  above  sorrow. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  43 

FRANC.  But    am    I  ?    am    I  ?     Has    he  left  the 

house  ? 

How  far,  then,  hath  he  gone  by  now — how  far  ? 
Surely  'tis  natural  to  desire  him  back — 
Most  natural — is  it  not  most  natural  ? — Say  ! 
And  yet — my  heart  is  wild 

NFTA.  He  is,  my  Lady, 

Your  husband's  brother. 

FRANC.  O,  I  had  not  thought ! 

I  had  not  thought !  I  have  sinned,  and  I  am 
stained  !  [She  weeps. 

NITA.  Lady,  you  have  done  nothing. 

Enter  GIOVANNI,  with  ATTENDANTS;  LUCREZIA,  with 
LADIES,  to  whom  she  gives  directions  apart. 
GIOVANNI  comes  down  to  FRANCESCA. 

Gio.  Could  you  not 

Prevail  on  him  to  stay? — he  will  return. 
How  beautiful  you  seem,  Francesca,  now, 
As  though  new- risen  with  the  bloom  of  dreams  ! 


44  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

More  difficult  it  grows  to  leave  your  side. 
I,  like  a  miser,  run  my  fingers  through 
Your  hair  :  yet  tears  are  lately  in  your  eyes  ! 
What  little  grief  perplexes  you,  my  child  ? 

FRANC.  T  cannot  tell,  but  suffer  me  to  seek 
The  Lady  Mother  of  the  convent. 

Gio.  Yet 

You  shal1  not  stir  alone.     I  have  a  fear. 

\_To  ATTENDANTS. 
Follow  your  mistress,  and  escort  her  back. 

\_Exit  FRANCESCA,  NITA  and  escort.     Lu- 
CREZIA  dismisses  LADIES    and  comes 
down  to  GIOVANNI. 
Gio.   [Looking  after  FRANCESCA.]    The   peril,  ah ! 

the  peril ! 

Luc.  What  is  this  ? 

Gio.  Sit,    then,   and    listen.      You  first  sowed   in 

me 

The  apprehension  of  Francesca's  youth. 
Luc.  O,  I  but  said 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  45 

Gio.  Listen  !     That  very  hour 

Blind  Angela,  that  held  me  at  her  breast. 
Whose  very  flesh  anticipates  my  fate, 
I  found  all  shivering  like  a  creature  dumb. 
She  clutched  my  arm,  and  then,  as  from  the  touch, 
There  came  a  kind  of  twilight  in  her  dark, 
And  in  that  twilight  with  blind  eyes  she  saw 
One  stealing  in  upon  my  wife  to  woo  her. 

Luc.  Ah! 

Gio.  In  a  place  of  leaves  they  sat  and  read. 

Nearer  he  drew,  and  kissed  her  on  the  lips. 
Again  into  her  dark  the  twilight  came, 
And  they  two  lay  together  on  a  bier, 
Slain  ere  they  knew,  and  in  each  other's  arms. 
These  images  have  so  enthralled  my  brain 
I  have  lived  since  then  in  fever. 

Luc.  But  this  shadow 

That  wooed  Francesca,  and  then  died  with  her, 
Was  nothing  more  discerned? 

Gio.  The  face  was  dim. 


*6  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Luc.  But    could    she   give    no   hint  of    form    or 

voice  ? 
Gio.    I    cried  — "  How    shall    I    know    him  ? " — 

Then  her  lips, 

After  a  frantic  striving,  shaped  these  words — 
"  Unwillingly  he  comes  a  wooing ;  she 
Unwillingly  is  wooed  :  yet  shall  they  woo." 

Luc.     Unwillingly !     This,    as    it     seems,     would 

point 

Gio.  [Starting  to  his  feet.']  Ah !  does   the   scent 
'come  to  you  ?     Set  me  on  ! 

Luc.    [Sl0wly.~]   To  one    who    had    dear    reason 

not  to  woo — 
To    one    who     owed     you     much  —  some     ancient 

friend  ! 

Gio.   Fainter    again !     I    know  of   no  such  man. 
Hark  back. 

Luc.  Said  she  no  more,  then  ? 
Gio.  "  He  shall  be 

Not  far  to  seek,  yet  perilous  to  find  ! " 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  47 

[LUCREZIA  starts. 
What,   does   the   scent  come   stronger   now  ?     You 

start, 
And  your  eyes  glitter 

Luc.   \_Going  slowly  to  him    and  laying  her  hand 

on  his  shoulder^  Let  us  hunt  this  trail ! 

And  yet  you  will  mislike  whither  it  leads. 

Gio.  Nothing  can  hold  me  now. 

Luc.  "  Not  far  to  seek  " 

Points  back  to  Rimini,  this  little  town, 
To  one,  perhaps,  mad  for  Francesca's  face, 
That  lurks  about  us. 

Gio.  Wary  now,  yet  swift ! 

Luc.  Here  at  our  gates,  or  nearer  still. 

Gio.  Say,  say  ! 

Luc.  Perhaps,  perhaps,  within  this  very  house. 

Gio.  O  barren  restless  woman,  at  what  sight 
Do  you  give  cry  at  last  ? 

Luc.    [Looking    into    his    eyes.~\     Are     you     still 
eager  ? 


48  PAOLO   AND    FRANCESCA 

Gio.  I  shut  my  eyes  and  I  run  into  it. 

Luc.  [Starting  back."]  That  crouch  as  of  a  beast 

about  to  spring ! 
I  dare  not,  will  not,  speak  till  you  are  calm. 

Gio.  I  am  calm   [bending    his  sword    across    his 

knee}.     This  steel  is  true  that  I  can  bend  it 
Into  a  hoop  ! 

Luc.  O,  then,  if  it  should  be 

One  that  had  risen,  eaten  and  drunk  with  you, 
Whose  hand  was  daily  in  your  own  ! 

Gio.  Is  it  ? 

Luc.     Giovanni !     who     shall     set     a     shore     tc 

love? 

When  hath  it  ever  swerved  from  death,  or  when 
Hath  it  not  bumed  away  all  barriers, 
Even  dearest  ties  of  mother  and  of  son, 
Even  of  brothers  ? 

Gio.  \_Seizing  her  arm.~]   Is  it  Paolo  ? 

Luc.    You   stop   the   blood   in   my  arm;    release 
your  hold. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  49 

Gio.   \Slowly  releasing  her  armJ\ 

Ah,     gradual     nature !     let     this     thought    com* 

slow  ! 

Accustom  me  by  merciful  degrees 
To  this  idea,  which  henceforth  is  my  home  : 
I  am  strong — yet  cannot  in  one  moment  think  it. 

Luc.  [Softly.'}  You  speak  as  in  a  trance. 

Gio.  Bring  me  not  back  ! 

Like  one  that  walks  in  sleep,  if  suddenly 
I  wake,  I  die.     [  With  a  cry.~]     Paolo  !  Paolo  ! 

Luc.  Giovanni ! 

Gio.  Paolo  !  ah,  no,  not  there  ! 

Not  there,  where  only  I  was  prone  to  love  ! 
Beautiful  wast  thou  in  the  battle,  boy  ! 
We    came    from    the    same  womb,   and    we    have 

slept 

Together  in  the  moonbeams  !     I  have  grown 
So  close  to  him,  my  very  flesh  doth  tear ! 
Why,  why,  Lucrezia,  I  have  lifted  him 

Over  rough  places — he  was  but  a  child, 
I 


So  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

A  child  that  put  his  hand  in  mine  !     I  reel — 

My  little  Paolo  !  [He  swoms  off. 

Luc.  Help,  help  !     Ah,  no  ! 

I  must  not  call — the  foam  is  on  his  lips, 
The  veins  outstand — and  yet  I  have  a  joy, 
A  bitter  joy  !     I'll  lay  his  head  down  here. 

\_She  raises  his  face,  and  looks  into  it. 
Thou  wast  so  rich — now  thou  art  poor  as  I ! 
His  eyes  unclose  !     Master  thyself  ! 

GJ  3.  \_Slowly  opening  his  eyes.~\  At  last ! 
As  to  a  soul  new-come  the  murk  of  hell 
Grows  more  accustomed,  gradually  light, 
So  I  begin  to  see  amid  this  gloom. 
Let  me  explore  the  place  and  walk  in  it ! 

[He  rises  slowly  to  his  feet. 
We  must  live  on,  Lucrezia — we  must  still 
Pace  slowly  on,  and  set  our  teeth  until 
Relief  is  sent. 

Luc.  Can  you  stand  now,  Giovanni  ? 

Gio.  You  are  my  friend,  my  solitary  friend  ! 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  51 

Luc.  Am  I  not  lone  as  you  are,  without  ties  ? 
Childless  and  husbandless,  yet  bitter-true  ! 

Gio.  Be  with  me  still — if  Paolo  it  is  ! 
Henceforward  let  no  woman  bear  two  sons. 
Yet,  wherefore  should  he  go  ? 

Luc.  He  feared,  perhaps. 

Gio.  He  too,  then,  feared — and  went. 

Luc.  Now  he  is  gone, 

There's  breathing  time  at  least. 

Gio.  Can  I  not  bind 

Her  beauty  fast  o'er  which  I  'gin  to  yearn  ? 
Are    there     not    drugs     to    charm    the     hearts    of 
women  ? 

Luc.  Put  her  to  sleep,  and  so  ensure  her  faith — 
Yet,  then,  she'll  dream. 

Gio.  If  Paolo  it  is  ! 

Luc.  Lean  upon  me,  Giovanni ;  you  are  weak. 

[Exeunt  both,  slowly. 


52  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

SCENE  II. — A  Wayside  Inn  out  of  Rimini. 

View   of  Rimini  in   distance,  towers   flushed  with 
sunset. 

Enter  MARCO  and  other  SOLDIERS,  MIRRA 
and  other  GIRLS,  a  SERGEANT. 

A  SOLDIER.  What !  Are  we  all  to  say  good-bye 
here,  then? 

A  GIRL.  We  can  come  no  further  out  of 
Rimini. 

ANOTHER  SOLDIER.  We  must  all  have  a  kiss 
before  we  go. 

ANOTHER  GIRL.  Ah !  you  are  ready  to  kiss  us, 
and  you  are  ready  to  go. 

SOLDIER.  That  is  the  soldier's  life. 

GIRL.  To  love  and  go  away?  Yes,  we  know 
you. 

MAR.  To  love  and  go,  and  love  again,  to  fight 
and  love  again,  and  go — a  good  life.  too. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  53 

A  GIRL.  Listen  to  him !  He  tells  us  he  will 
love  some  one  else.  Well,  we  have  all  had  a  merry 
time. 

MAR.  So  we  have ;  but  the  world  is  large.  Little 
Mirra  here  is  not  the  first  or  the  last. 

{They  laugh. 

A  SOLDIER.  One  last  cup  of  wine  all  round. 

MAR.  Come,  Mirra,  we'll  drink  together  out  of 
this  cup.  Here's  your  health,  sweetheart,  and  many 
other  lovers  to  you. 

A  GIRL.  Ah !  he  knows  life  is  short.  Isn't  he  a 
pretty  fellow  ? 

MAR.  [Sings."] 

O  I  love  not,  I,  the  long  road  and  the  march, 
With  the  chink,  chink,  chinking,  and  the  parch. 
But  I  love  the  little  town  that  springs  in  sight 
At  the  falling  of  the  day,  with  many  a  light. 
It  is  sweet !  it  is  sweet  — 

(Chorus)  Ha,  ha  !     Ha,  ha ! 


54  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

To  clatter  down  the  pebbly  street, 

When  the  taverns  all  are  humming, 

And  the  lads  in  front  are  drumming, 

And  the  windows  fill  with  girls, 

All  laughing,  and  all  shaking  down  their  curls. 

(Chorus)  Ha,  ha  !     Ha,  ha  ! 

Then  your  armour's  all  unlaced, 
And  your  arm  is  round  a  waist : 
And  she  seems  so  much  afraid, 
You  could  swear  she  was  a  maid 


SERGEANT.  [Interrupting^  Come,  lads,  give  the 
girls  the  slip  :  your  duty !  We  must  start 
again. 

MIR.  [Clinging  to  MARCO.]  You  will  come  back 
again,  won't  you,  Marco  ? 

MAR.  May  and  may  not,  Mirra.    Who  can  tell  ? 

MIR.  Because — because 

A  GIRL.  Look  at  her — she's  crying  !  Why,  he  was 
only  playing  with  you. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  55 

MIR.  I  know,  I  know. 

A  GIRL.  And  they  say  his  play  has  ended  in  some 
earnest. 

ANOTHER  GIRL.  Well,  what  then  ?  Fools  must  go 
their  own  way. 

MAR.  Good-bye,  girls :  we  have  had  a  merry 
time. 

GIRLS.  Good-bye,  good-bye  !  \_All  exeunt. 

Enter  CORRADO,  VALENTINO,  LUIGI  and  PAOLO. 

COR.  Here's  an  inn — the  first  since  Rimini.  Bring 
us  some  wine. 

PAO.  How  straight  the  road  is  from  here  to  Rimini ! 
One  can  see  the  town  at  the  end. 

VAL.  Yes,  and  your  brother's  castle.  \_Enter 
LANDLORD  with  wine.']  Come,  Lord  Paolo,  some 
wine.  Why  so  dull  ? 

PAO.  It  is  that  old  wound  pains  me. 

COR.  [Drinking.~]  Come,  lad,  out  with  it !  Is  it 
a  debt  or  a  wench  ?  Let  me  talk  with  him.  Goc* 


56  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

wer  to  PAOLO.]  I  can  advise  you,  Paolo.  I  have 
loved  more,  owed  more,  drunk  more,  and  lived  more. 
Confess  to  me  ! 

Lui.  Who  would  not  to  so  easy  a  priest  ? 

VAL.  \To  CORRADO.]  Still  staring  down  the 
road. 

COR.  [  Whispering^   I  have  it,  then. 

VAL.  Corrado  says  that  when  a  man  sits  down  out- 
side an  inn  and  refuses  wine,  and  stares  back  along 
the  road  he  came,  he  is  in  love. 

COR.  Didn't  you  observe  one  of  those  girls  as  we 
passed  them,  crying  ?  Shame,  Paolo  !  and  in  your 
own  town,  too  ! 

Lui.  He  doesn't  hear  us. 

COR.  Well,  here's  a  health  to  her,  whoever  she  is  ! 
Now,  Paolo,  let  me  speak  to  you.  I  have  myself  so 
often  felt  this — give  me  a  word. 

VAL.  Pang! 

COR.  Pang — yes,  pang  J 

Lui.  So  often  ? 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  57 

COR.  More  times  than  I  can  count.  Why,  .man,  I 
have  thriven  on  pangs.  There  was  the  landlord's 
wife  at  Ancona ;  there  was  the  little  black-eyed  girl 
out  of  Florence.  To  look  at  me,  you  would  scarcely 
suppose  that  I  have  left  half  the  cities  of  Italy  sighing 
behind  me.  I  have  suffered,  and  I  have  inflicted. 
There  was 

Lui.  O,  Corrado  !     Not  these  old  stories. 

COR.  Well,  the  fruit  of  all  this !  You  must  know 
that  love  is  a  thing  physical.  It  can  be  sweated  out 
of  a  man  by  hard  riding ;  it  evaporates  from  the  body 
like  any  humour. 

VAL.  Ha!  ha! 

COR.  My  advice  is  this — fill  up,  drink,  and 
get  to  fighting  quickly  ;  and  if,  after  a  bottle 
or  so,  you  have  taken  a  girl  on  your  knee  in 
the  twilight — Why  Paolo !  consider  you  have  left 
behind  you,  perhaps,  another  soldier  for  your 
brother's  wars.  You  have  dnne  a  brotherly  act, 
ana 


58  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

PAO.  [Rising."]  Corrado,  we  have  been  fast  com- 
rades, and  I  think  you  know  me ;  but  another  word 
of  this  and  there  will  be  an  end  of  talk  between  us — 
you  understand  ? 

COR.  O  !  ho  ! 

VAL.  I  tell  you — you  see,  it  is  one  of  those 
serious  matters,  where  the  spirit  is  more  con- 
cerned than  the  flesh.  Come,  Paolo,  let  us  have 
it! 

COR.  Before  he  begins,  I  think  it  would  be  more 
fitting  if  we  uncovered  our  heads,  for  the  recitation 
is  likely  to  be  solemn. 

Lui.  Come,  come,  we  must  be  going  ! 

COR.  God  send  us  another  inn  soon. 

\_Exeunt  CORRADO  and  VALENTINO. 

Lui.  Give  me  your  hand,  Paolo — you  know  me. 
Tell  me  the  trouble. 

PAO.  I  cannot,  Luigi. 

Lui.  Have  you  fallen  out  with  your  brother  ?  You 
and  he  were  such  friends. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  59 

PAO.  No. 

Lui.  Is  it  the  young  wife  that  he  has  married,  and 
now  he  seems  more  cold  to  you  ?  But  this  is  natural 
at  first.  How  can  I  help  you  ? 

PAO.  No  one  can  help  me,  Luigi. 

Lui.  Up,  and  lead  us  on,  then  ! 

PAO.  I  will  catch  you  in  a  moment. 

Lui.  I  am  very  sorry,  Paolo.  [Exit  LUIGI. 

PAO.  I   have   fled    from   her;    have    refused   the 

rose, 

Although  my  brain  was  reeling  at  the  scent. 
I  have  come  hither  as  through  pains  of  death ; 
I  have  died,  and  I  am  gazing  back  at  life. 
Yet  now  it  were  so  easy  to  return, 
And  run  down  the  white  road  to  Rimini ! 
And  might  I  not  return  ?  [He  starts  up  and  looks 
at  the  towers,  red  with  sunset."]  Those  battle- 
ments 

Are  burning  !  they  catch  fire,  those  parapets  ! 
And  through  the  blaze  doth  her  white  face  look  out 


60  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Like  one  forgot,  yet  possible  to  save. 
Might  I  not  then  return  ?     Ah,  no  !  no  !  no ! 
For  I  should  tremble  to  be  touched  by  her, 
And  dread  the  music  of  her  mere  good-night. 
Howe'er  I  sentinelled  my  bosom,  yet 
That  moment  would  arrive  when  instantly 
Our  souls  would  flash  together  in  one  flame, 
And  I  should  pour  this  torrent  in  her  ear 
And  suddenly  catch  her  to  my  heart. 

\_A  drum  is  heard 

A  drum ! 

O,  there  is  still  a  world  of  men  for  a  man  ! 
I'll  lose  her  lace  in  flashing  brands,  her  voice 
In  charging  cries  :  I'll  rush  into  the  war  ! 

[SOLDIERS   pass    across    the   stage.     Seeing 
PAOLO,    they    cheer   and  call  him    by 
name — then    exeunt.      He    makes    to 
follmv,  then  stops. 
I  cannot  go ;  thrilling  from  Rimini, 
A  tender  voice  makes  all  the  trumpets  mute. 


PAOLO   AND    FRANCESCA  61 

I  cannot  go  from  her  :  may  not  return. 

O  God  !  what  is  Thy  will  upon  me  ?     Ah  ! 

One  path  there  is,  a  straight  path  to  the  dark. 

There,  in  the  ground,  I  can  betray  no  more, 

And  there  for  ever  am  I  pure  and  cold. 

The  means  !     No  dagger  blow,  nor  violence  shown 

Upon  my  body  to  distress  her  eyes. 

Under  some  potion  gently  will  I  die ; 

And  they  that  find  me  dead  shall  lay  me  dowc 

Beautiful  as  a  sleeper  at  her  feet. 


CURTAIN 


ACT    III 


SCENE  1. — The  shop  of  PULCI,  late  evening.  The 
walls  and  ceiling  are  hung  with  skins,  sharks 
teeth,  crucibles,  wax  figures,  crystals,  charms, 
&c.  A  counter,  at  which  TESSA  stands.  As 
the  scene  opens  figures  are  seen  leaving  the 
shop.  Three  PEASANT  GIRLS  and  a  LADY'S  MAID 
remain. 

TESSA.  I  must  ask  you  to  choose  quickly.  It  is  past 
the  hour  for  closing  the  shop. 

ist  GIRL.  And  will  this  syrup  keep  Antonio  faith- 
ful ? 

TESSA.  Two  drops  of  this  in  anything  he  drinks, 
given  every  seven  days,  and  he  will  have  no  eyes  but 
for  you. 

ist  GIRL.  But  will  it  keep  his  thoughts  true  while  . 
am  away  ? 


66  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

TESSA.  Wherever  he  may  be  his  thoughts  will  be 
for  you. 

ist  GIRL.  Ah,  but  you  don't  know  Antonio.  He  is 
so  easily  led  off — any  face  if  it  is  fresh — any  fool 
with  bright  eyes. 

TESSA.  These  drops  will  keep  even  Antonio  faith- 
ful. 

ist  GIRL.  I'll  take  it,  then  :  it  must  be  a  wonderful 
syrup.  \_Exit  ist  GIRL. 

TESSA.  \To  MAID.]  And  you  ? 

MAID.  I  wondered  how  long  I  was  to  be  made  to 
wait  for  these  common  chattering  wenches.  I  want 
another  packet  of  that  face-bloom  for  my  mistress, 
and  a  darker  shade.  The  other  makes  her  appear 
hectic. 

TESSA.  This,  then,  has  a  darker  tinge. 

MAID.  And  you  are  to  tell  your  father  that  the 
dye  he  sent  withers  her  hair.  He  must  add  more 
oil. 

TESSA.  I  will  tell  him.     Good-night. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  67 

MAID.  Good-night  to  you.  \_Exit  MAID. 

2nd   GIRL.  \_Holding  out  charm.~\      What   is  this 
charm? 

TESSA.  It  will  ensure  you  against  ague,  fever, 
or  infection,  and  not  only  this,  but  against  peril 
of  any  kind.  It  is  worn  round  the  neck,  and 
at  the  approach  of  danger  it  will  tremble  and 
give  you  a  sign. 

2nd  GIRL.  O,  I  must  have  that.  Will  this 
money  be  enough  to-day  if  I  bring  the  rest  next 
week  ? 

TESSA.  If  the  charm  is  not  paid  for  soon  it  will 
lose  its  power.  Take  it,  and  remember. 

\_Exit  2nd  GIRL. 
Now  you — quickly,  please — what  do  you  want  ? 

3rd  GIRL.  I  want  a  cure  for  love.  Are  they 
very  expensive  ? 

TESSA.  We  have  some  that  will  cure  of  love  in 
a  few  hours;  but  these  will  cost  you  a  great 
deal. 


68  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

3d  GIRL.  It  is  terrible  not  to  be  able  to  sleep 
at  nights. 

TESSA.  Here  is  one  that  will  bring  you  back 
sleep,  and  cure  you  entirely  in  a  few  weeks — 
one  that  you  could  afford. 

3rd  GIRL.  I  don't  think  I  want  to  be  cured 
entirely — and  yet  one  never  knows  what  one  may 
come  to  when  it  grows  late  and  there  is  music  and 
dancing.  It  is  hard  to  resist  under  the  moon. 

TESSA.  Come,  now — will  you  take  it  ? 

3rd  GIRL.  [Taking  phial.']  I  think  I'll  have  it, 
and  take  it  very  slowly. 

TESSA.  There,  then ! 

3rd  GIRL.  There's  money  saved  for  six  weeks.  Ah, 
well! 

[Exit  3rd  GIRL.     TESSA,  after  barring  up 
door,  goes  to  glass. 

TESSA.  Now  I  can  play  for  awhile.  [She  puts 
some  bloom  on  her  face.~]  O,  but  this  bloom  is 
beautiful !  And  how  it  makes  one's  eyes 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  69 

sparkle !  Now  this  red  salve  for  the  lips — that 
is  just  what  I  lacked.  My  lips  are  too  pale — but 
now !  Where  is  that  pencil  ?  Here.  Shall  I 
lengthen  my  eyebrows,  curving  them  so  ?  No : 
I  will  only  deepen  them.  There,  then !  [She 
walks  up  and  down  before  a  glass,  then  sits 
dejectedly.']  Yet  what  is  the  use  of  all  this?  I 
am  never  seen,  may  not  stir  into  the  streets. 
And  I  want  to  be  seen,  and  hear  music 
and 

PUL.  [Entering  down  the  stairs  with  a  lighted 
brazier.~\  Tessa ! 

TESSA.  Yes,  father. 

PUL.  Have  I  not  forbidden  you  to  touch 
these  powders? 

TESSA.  Ah,  but  look  at  me,  father.  Am  I 
always  to  stay  shut  up  here,  where  no  one 
comes  but  maids  of  fine  ladies  and  girls  from 
the  shops  ? 

PPL.  My    child,    we    must    be     patient    a    little 


70  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

longer.  Listen !  Soon  we  shall  be  rich,  and 
then  we  will  fly  Rimini,  and  far  from  here  we 
will  have  a  palace —  \_A  knockJ]  Tessa,  go  to  your 
room  instantly. 

TESSA.  [Lingering."]      May   I    not    stay   and    see 
who  it  is? 

PUL.  It  is  only  some  lady's-maid. 

TESSA.  No,  father,  I  think  it  is  a  gentleman. 

PUL.  Quickly  !     Quickly  ! 

[Exit  TESSA.  PULCI  puts  out  light  and 
lights  a  lamp ;  he  slowly  unbars  the 
door.  Enter  GIOVANNI,  masked  and 
cloaked.  PULCI  closes  door  after 
him. 

PUL.  Has  no  one  seen  you  enter,  sir  ? 
Gio.  No  one. 

PUL.  Softly!     What  do  you  seek? 
Gio.  Some  dreamy  potion 

That  can  enthral  a  woman's  wandering  heart 
And  all  her  thought  subdue  to  me. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  71 

PUL.  [Producing  phial.~\  This  poured 

In  her  night  drink  will  woo  her  to  your  arms. 
One  amorous  night  at  least  it  will  procure. 

Gio.  One  night ! — what  use  of  that  ?     Each  day, 

each  night 
Must  she  be  mine. 

PUL.  But  one  more  drug  I  have— ' 

[Searches  for  another  phial. 

Gio.  [Aside.']  I  must  beguile,  it  seems,  my  wedded 

wife, 
And  lure  into  my  arms  what  is  my  own. 

PUL.   [Offering  another  phialJ]    This,    then,    will 

purchase  some  infatuate  days. 
Gio.  Some  days  ! 

PUL.  No  tincture  longer  holds  the  blood. 

Gio.  Here  is  a  purse.  [Throws  purse  of  coins. 

PUL.  Ah  !  get  you  quickly  gone. 

[As   they  approach   the  door  a  knock  is 

heard. 
See  !  I  will  slowly  now  unbar  the  door, 


72  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

And  whoso  enters  past  him  slip  away 
Into  the  night. 

Gio.  [Stops  PULCI.]   I  must  not  meet  a  stranger. 

[Takes  off  mask. 
Hither  !  look  on  my  face. 

PUL.    [Falling  on  his  knees.~]    Mercy,  great  Lord  ! 
Take  not  my  life — this  commerce  after  hours 
Is  for  my  child. 

Gio.  Hide  me,  and  instantly. 

PUL.  [Hiding  him  behind  the  arras.']  Here, 
then.  [Another  knock.~]  And,  sir,  secrets  of 
Rimini 

And  unsuspected  movings  of  your  subjects 
You  can  o'erhear.     I'll  draw  him  on  to  speak — 
Only     stir     not.       [Unbars    door;     enter    PAOLO."] 
Warily,  sir. 

PAO.  Old  man 

Gio.  Paolo's  voice  ! 

PAO.  What    is    that    sound?     This   business 

Is  for  no  other  ear  but  yours. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  73 

PUL.  If  any  stirred 

It  was  my  child  preparing  her  for  bed. 

PAO.  If  any  hear  me,  it  were  ill  for  him  ! 
Old  man,  there  is  within  this  purse  a  calm 
Decline  for  thee  to  death,  and  quiet  hours. 
Take  it,  and  give  me  in  exchange  some  drug 
That  can  fetch  down  on  us  the  eternal  sleep, 
Anticipating  the  slow  mind  of  God. 

PUL.  Is  this  thing  for  thyself,  or  for  another  ? 

PAO.   'Tis  for  myself  ! 

PUL.  I  will  not  sell  to  murder. 

But  unto  any  weary  of  their  life 
I  sell  a  painless  issue  out  of  it. 
Yet  you  are  young  ! 

PAO.  Think  you  the  old  would  die  ? 

At  any  cost  they  would  prolong  the  light. 
'Tis  we,  in  whose  pure  blood  the  fever  takes, 
Newly  inoculate  with  violent  life, 
'Tis  we  who  are  so  mad  to  die. 

PUL.  'Tis  true 


74  PAOLO  AND   FRANCESCA 

I  would  not  lose  a  moment  of  the  sun. 
What  hath  so  early  ruined  you  ? 

PAO.  Old  sir, 

I  am  on  my  death-bed,  and  to  you  confess, — 
Love,  where  to  love  is  extreme  treachery — 
Love  for  another's  wife. 

PUL.  Nothing  so  strange. 

PAO.   Yes,   for    she    is    my    brother's    wife — my 
sister. 

Gio.   [Aside.~\  Thou  hast  said  it ! 

PAO.  O,  I  cannot  near  her  bide 

But  infinite  her  lightest  whisper  grows. 
There's  peril  in  the  rustling  of  her  dress. 

PUL.  And  are  you,  too,  beloved  ? 

PAO.  She  hath  said  no  word, 

But  should  I  stay,  she  would  catch  fire  from  me. 

PUL.  Why    all's    before   you — yet    you    yield   up 
breath. 

PAO.   I  cannot  go  from  her ;  I  must  not  stay. 
To  die  is  left ! 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  75 

PUL.  For  such  a  drug  the  price 

PAO.  Usher  me  to  oblivion  ! 

[Shows  purse  with  gold. 
PUL.  [Reaching  down  phial.]  This  drunk  off 
Within  an  hour  will  terminate  thy  woe. 

PAO.     [Taking  phial  which   PULCI    hands    him.~\ 
Unbar   the  door !     How  the   night   rushes   in  ! 

[Exit  PAOLO. 
PUL.  \To  GIOVANNI.]  I'll  follow  him.     If  suddenly 

he  drink 
He  must  not  fall  and  lie  too  near  my  door. 

[Exit  PULCI. 
Gio.  [Coming  from  behind  arras."]     All  doubt  at 

last  is  o'er  !     He  hath  said  it  out ! 
Almost  I  had  my  dagger  in  his  heart ! 
Yet  sooner  than  betray,  he  is  gone  to  death. 
[  Wildly.]  I  cannot  have  thee  die,  my  Paolo  ! 
Perhaps    even     now    he     drinks :     even     now    the 

phial 
Touches  his  lips — ah.  brother,  dash  it  down  ! 


76  PAOLO  AND   FRANCESCA 

How    much,    then,    hast     thou    drunk?      Not    yet 

enough — 
Not    yet    enough — I     know — for    death  ?       Which 

way 
Went   he — I'll   follow  him.    \_Rushes    to    door,  then 

pauses^]  Yet,  O  my  God  ! 
It  must  be  so  !     How  else?     He  is  so  bound 
To  her,  he  cannot  fly  ! — he  must  not  stay  ! 
He  has  gone  out  upon  the  only  road. 
And  this  is  my  relief  !     O  dread  relief  ! 
Thus  only  am  I  pure  of  brother's  blood  ! 
I  must  be  still  while  he  goes  out  to  die  ! — 
And  yet  be  still — while  he  who  is  most  dear 
Drinks  poison — yet  I  must  be  very  still ! 

Re-enter  PULCI. 

PUL.    I   watched   till    he   was    mingled   with    the 

night. 
Gio.  Tell   me !     Is   he  that's    gone    so    sure    to 

die? 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  77 

PUL.  Within  an  hour,  so  potent  is  the  drug ! 
\_Fawning  on  Gio.]  You  on  more  pleasant  business 

came  to  me. 

We  who  are  older  at  such  madness  laugh. 
Gio.  I  stifle  here  ! 

PUL.  Tyrant  of  Rimini ! 

You  will  not  kill  me  ? 

Gio.  Till  to-morrow  night 

I    stay    my    hand.       Which     way     went     he — that 

fool? 

PUL.    Straight  on;    he  never   turned  until  I  lost 
him.  [Exit  GIOVANNI. 

Tessa! 

TESSA.  [Rtmning  tn.~\  Yes,  father. 
PUL.  Now  you  have  your  wish ; 

To-morrow  must  we  run  from  Rimini. 

TESSA.      To-morrow     night     the     world     then — 
the  bright  world  ! 

[PuLCi  pours  the  gold  out  on  the  counter. 


78  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

SCENE  II. — A  lane  outside  the  wall  of  the  castle 
garden,  postern  door  in  the  wall. 

Enter  PAOLO. 

PAO.   There   is   no    other    means :     but    ah,    the 

pain  ! 

Here  is  the  garden  where  her  lattice  shines. 
Perchance  she  looks  toward  me  now,  and  makes 
A  music  upon  midnight  with  my  name. 
Perchance  she  leans  into  the  air  and  sighs. 
O  !  now  is  she  attired  in  purest  white, 
Hanging  above  our  heads  '  twixt  earth  and  heaven  \ 
Life,  life  !  I  cannot  leave  thee,  for  she  lives. 
At  least  I  must  behold  her  before  death ; 
And  go  straight  from  her  face  into  the  grave — 
Straight  from  her  touch  at  least  into  the  ground. 
Much  is  permitted  to  a  man  condemned. 
I'll  see  her,  hear  her,  touch  her  ere  I  die. 

[Exit  PAOLO    through  postern  door  into  the 
gardens. 


PAOLO  AND   FRANCESCA  79 

Enter  two  COURIERS   hastily  with  torches. 

i  st  COUR.  Which  way  now  ? 

2nd  COUR.  Stay,  I  arn  out  of  breath. 

ist  COUR.  At  such  a  moment,  that  Lord  Malatesta 
cannot  be  found  ! 

2nd  COUR.  I  must  get  my  breath  against  this  door. 
Have  you  the  papers  ? 

ist  COUR.  Here.  Lately  married,  yet  out  of  hit 
bed  at  this  hour  ! 

2nd  COUR.  Ah,  I  wish  I  were  back  with 

ist  COUR.  Hush  !  here  is  Carlo. 

Enter  CARLO. 

Well,  no  sign  of  him  ? 

CAR.  None. 
And  I  am  aguish,  and  these  night  dews  ! 

ist  COUR.  Stay ! 

CAR.  What  ? 

ist  COUR.  Listen  !  I  tell  you. 


8o  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

2nd  COUR.  A  step  ! 

CAR.  It  is  he,  Lord  Mala  testa. 

Enter  GIOVANNI  slowly. 

CAR.  Great  lord,  we  have  pursued  you  up  and 
down.  Here's  news  tliat  will  not  stay. 

[Gives  htm  letter. 

Gio.  Hold  the  torch  nearer.  [Reads. ,]  "Tyrant 
of  Rimini !  All  Pesaro  is  risen  against  the  tax 
kid  on  them.  Our  men  are  beaten  behind  the 
city  walls — the  city  itself  declares  for  Cosimo.  We 
wait  but  for  you ;  a  noise  of  your  coming — a  sight 
of  you — and  the  city  will  fall  to  us  again.  Linger 
not  a  moment. — ANDREA."  Carlo,  muster  every 
man  within  call.  Then  to  the  palace — saddle  my 
horse.  Summon  all  in  the  house  to  follow  you  : 
rouse  them  from  their  beds ;  they  must  ride  with  me 
instantly. 

[Exeunt  CARLO  and  COURIERS.    Enter  run- 
ning two  MESSENGERS  from  other  side. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  81 

A  MESSENGER.  Lord  and  tyrant  of  Rimini !  We 
are  come  on  you  none  too  soon — we  are  ridden  from 
the  camp — our  horses  stand — there  was  no  moment 
to  write,  but  this  by  word  of  mouth  :  "  Your  gar- 
rison makes  terms  with  the  enemy :  many  are 
already  gone  over,  and  we  fear  for  San  Arcangelo 
and  the  whole  province." 

Gio.  Get  a  cup  of  wine,  both  of  you,  and  be  pre- 
pared to  ride  with  me  within  the  half-hour.  I'll  fall 
like  thunder  on  Pesaro,  and  catch  San  Arcangelo 
with  the  wind  of  it.  \_Exit  one  MESSENGER.  Gio< 
VANNI  to  the  other."]  Stay  you,  sir !  and  tell  me 
more  exactly  as  we  hurry  on.  Where  is  Andrea  now, 
then  ?  There  is  a  vantage-ground  just  out  of  Pesaro, 

and  there 

[Exeunt  GIOVANNI  and  MESSENGER. 


82  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

SCENE  III. — An  Arbour  in  the  Castle  Gardens. 
Dawn  beginning  to  break. 

Enter  FRANCESCA  with  a  book,  NITA  following 
with  lamp. 

FRANC.  I  cannot  sleep,  Nita ;  I  will  read  here. 
Is  it  dawn  yet  ?  [NiTA  sets  lamp  down. 

NITA.  No,  lady  :  yet  I  see 

A  flushing  in  the  East. 

FRANC.  How  still  it  is  ! 

NITA.  This  is  the  stillest  time  of  night  or  day. 

FRANC.  Know  you  why,  Nita  ? 

NITA.  No,  my  lady. 

FRANC.  Now 

Day  in  a  breathless  passion  kisses  night, 
And  neither  speaks. 

NITA.  Shall  I  stay  here  ? 

FRANC.  Ah,  no ! 

Perhaps  in  the  dawn  silence  I  shall  drowse. 
If  not,  I'll  read  this  legend  to  myself. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  83 

NITA.  Is  it  a  pretty  tale  ? 

FRANC.  Pretty,  ah  no  ! 

Nita ;  but  beautiful  and  passing  sad. 

NITA.  I  love  sad  tales :  though  I  am  gay,  I  love 
Sometimes  to  weep.     But  is  it  of  our  time  ? 

FRANC.  It  is  an  ancient  tale  of  two  long  dead. 

NITA.  O,  'tis  a  tale  of  love  ! 

FRANC.  Of  love,  indeed. 

But,  Nita,  leave  me  to  myself  :  1  think 
I  would  have  no  one  stirring  near  me  now. 

{Exit  NITA. 
The  light  begins,  but  he  is  far  away. 

[She  walks  to  and  fro. 
Better  than  tossing  in  that  vacant  room 
Is  this  cool  air  and  fragrance  ere  the  dawn. 
Where    is    the    page  which   I   had    reached  ?     Ah, 

here  ! 
Now  let  me  melt  into  an  ancient  woe. 

[Begins  to  read.    Enter  PAOLO,  softly, 

PAO.  Francesca ! 


84  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

FRANC.  Paolo  !  I  thought  you  now 

Gone  into  battle  dim,  far,  far  away. 

PAO.  And   seems    it  strange    that  I  should  come, 
then? 

FRANC.        No, 
It  seems  that  it  could  not  be  otherwise. 

PAO.  I   went    indeed;  but   some  few  miles   from 

hence 

Turned,  and  could  go  no  further.     All  this  night 
About  the  garden  have  I  roamed  and  burned. 
And  now,  at  last,  sleepless  and  without  rest, 
I  steal  to  you. 

FRANC.  Sleepless  and  without  rest ! 

PAO.  It  seemed  that  I  must  see  your  face  again, 
Then  nevermore ;  that  I  must  hear  your  voice, 
And     then     no    more;    that    I    must    touch    youi 

hand, 

Once.     No  one  stirs  within  the  house ;  no  one 
In  all  this  world  but  you  and  I,  Francesca. 
We  two  have  to  each  other  moved  all  night. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  85 

FRANC.  I  moved  not  to  you,  Paolo. 

PAO.  But  night 

Guided  you  on,  and  onward  beckoned  me. 
What    is    that    book   you    read  ?     Now    fades    the 

last 

Star  to  the  East :  a  mystic  breathing  comes : 
And    all     the     leaves     once     quivered,     and     were 
still. 

FRANC.  It  is  the  first,  the  faint  stir  of  the  dawn. 

PAO.  So  still  it  is  that  we  might  almost  hear 
The  sigh  of  all  the  sleepers  in  the  world. 

FRANC.  And  all  the  rivers  running  to  the  sea. 

PAO.  What  is't  you  read  ? 

FRANC.  It  is  an  ancient  tale. 

PAO.  Show  it  to  me.     Is  it  some  drowsy  page 
That  reading  low  I  might  persuade  your  eyes 
At  last  to  sleep  ? 

FRANC.  It  is  the  history 

Of  two  who  fell  in  love  long  years  ago ; 
And  wrongly  fell. 


86  PAOLO    AND   FRANCESCA 

PAO.  How  wrongly  ? 

FRANC.  Because  she 

Already  was  a  wife,  and  he  who  loved 
Was  her  own  husband's  dear  familiar  friend. 
PAO.  Was  it  so  long  ago  ? 
FRANC.  So  long  ago. 

PAO.  What     were     their     famous     and     unlucky 

names  ? 
FRANC.  Men  called    him   Launcelot,   her  Guene- 

vere. 
Here  is  the  page  where  I  had  ceased  to  read. 

PAO.  [Taking    book.']      Their    history   is   blotted 

with  new  tears. 
FRANC.  The  tears  are  mine  :  I  know  not   why  I 

wept. 
But     these     two    were     so    glad     in    their    wrong 

love : 
It  was  their  joy ;  it  was  their  helpless  joy. 

PAO.  Shall    I    read    on   to   you   where   you    have 
paused  ? 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  87 

FRANC.  Here  is  the  place :   but  read  it  low  and 

sweet. 
Put  out  the  lamp  !  [PAOLO  puts  out  the  lamp. 

PAO.  The  glimmering  page  is  clear. 

\_Reading.~\    "  Now    on    that    day  it  chanced   that 

Launcelot, 

Thinking  to  find  the  King,  found  Guenevere 
Alone ;  and  when  he  saw  her  whom  he  loved, 
Whom  he  had  met  too  late,  yet  loved  the  more ; 
Such  was  the  tumult  at  his  heart  that  he 
Could  speak  not,  for  her  husband  was  his  friend, 
His  dear  familiar  friend  :  and  they  two  held 
No  secret  from  each  other  until  now ; 
But    were    like    brothers    born" — my  voice    breaks 

off. 
Read  you  a  little  on. 

FRANC.  \_Reading.~\  "  And  Guenevere, 
Turning,  beheld  him  suddenly  whom  she 
Loved  in  her  thought,  and  even  from  that  hour 
When  first  she  saw  him  ;  for  by  day,  by  night, 


88  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Though  lying  by  her  husband's  side,  did  she 
Weary  for  Launcelot,  and  knew  full  well 
How  ill  that  love,  and  yet  that  love  how  deep  ! " 
I  cannot  see — the  page  is  dim  :  read  you. 

PAO.  [Reading.]  "  Now  they  two  were  alone,  yet 

could  not  speak; 

But  heard  the  beating  of  each  other's  hearts. 
He  knew  himself  a  traitor  but  to  stay, 
Yet  could  not  stir :  she  pale  and  yet  more  pale 
Grew  till  she  could  no  more,  but  smiled  on  him. 
Then  when  he  saw  that  wished  smile,  he  came 
Near  to  her  and  still  near,  and  trembled ;  then 
Her  lips  all  trembling  kissed." 

FRANC.    \_Drooping   towards   him.]    Ah,    Launce- 
lot !  \_He  kisses  her  on  the  lips. 

CURTAIN 


ACT  IV 


A  Chamber  in  the  Palace — late  evening  of  the  second 
day  after  GIOVANNI'S  departure. 

GIOVANNI  discovered,  stained  as  from  hard  riding. 
CARLO  and  RETAINERS  attending  him.  Wine  on 
table. 

Gio.     The      Lady     Lucrezia — is      she      in      the 
house  ? 

CAR.  She  is,  sir. 

Gio.  Tell  her  that  I  am  returned, 

And    ask    some    words    with    her.      Well    why,   do 

you 
Stand    bursting    with    some     news    that    you    must 

tell? 
What  sudden  thing  has  happened  ? 

CAR.  Nothing,  sir. 


92  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Gio.  Nothing  ?     You    then    that    huddle    all    to- 
gether, 

Like  cattle  against  thunder — what  hath  chanced  ? 
AN  ATTENDANT.  I  know  of  nothing,  sir. 
and  ATTEN.  Nor  I. 

3rd  ATTEN.  Nor  I. 

Gio.  Leave  me  and  take  my  message  ! 

\_tixeunt  CARLO  and  ATTENDANTS. 

Lies  he  so 

Quiet    that    none     hath     found    him  ?      They    are 

driven 

Out  from  the  city  and  are  fugitives. 
Ne'er  did  I  strike  and  hew  as  yesterday, 
And  that  armed  ghost  of  Paolo  by  me  rode. 

\_He  pours  out  wine  and  drinks. 

Enter  LUCREZIA. 

Luc.  So  soon  returned,  Giovanni  ? 
Gic.  A  few  hours' 

Fast  fighting  ended  it,  Lucrezia. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  93 

What  news  at  home  ? 

Luc.  O,  Paolo  is  returned  ! 

Gio.  Paolo  returned  !     What,  from  the  grave  ? 

Luc.  The  grave  ? 

Gio.  I  left  him  dead,  or  going  to  his  death. 

Luc.  What  do  you  mean  ? 

Gio.  I  heard  from  his  own  mouth 

That  he  and  she  did  for  each  other  burn. 

Luc.  He  told  you  ? 

Gio.  No,  not  me  :  but  yet  I  heard. 

Luc.  And  you  on  the  instant  killed  him  ? 

Gio.  No,  he  stole 

Away  to  die  :    I  thought  him  dead  :   'twere  better. 
Now  like  a  thief  he  creeps  back  to  the  house  ! 
To  her  for  whom  I  had  begun  to  long 
So  late  in  life  that  now  I  may  not  cease 
From  longing ! 

Luc.  Her  that  you  must  drug  to  kiss  ! 

Will  you  not  smell  the  potion  in  her  sigh  ? 
A  few  more  drops,  then  what  a  mad  caress  ! 


94  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Gio.  He   hath   crept  back   like   a  thief   into   the 

house — 

A  thief — a  liar — he  feigned  the  will  to  die. 
Lucrezia,  when  old  Angela  foretold, 
I  feared  not  him  :   when  he  was  pointed  at, 
I  doubted  still :  even  after  his  own  words, 
Then,  then  had  I  forgiven  him,  for  he 
Went  out  as  to  a  grave.     But  now  I  am  changed— 
I  will  be  wary  of  this  creeping  thing. 
O,  I  have  no  emotion  now,  no  blood. 
No  longer  I  postpone  or  fight  this  doom : 
I  see  that  it  must  be,  and  I  am  grown 
The  accomplice  and  the  instrument  of  Fate, 
A  blade  !  a  knife  ! — no  more. 

Luc.  He  has  been  hert 

Since  yestermorn. 

Gio.  Yet  I'll  be  no  assassin, 

Or  rashly  kill :  I  have  not  seen  them  kiss. 
Til  wait  to  find  them  in  each  other's  arms, 
And  stab  them  there  enfolded  and  entwined, 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  95 

And  so  to  all  men  justify  my  deed. 
Vet  how  to  find  them  where  to  kill  is  just  ? 
Luc.  Give    out     that     this     is     no     return,     but 

merely 

An  intermission  of  the  war  :  that  you 
Must  ride  back  to  the  camp  within  the  hour, 
And  for  some  days  be  absent :  he  and  she 
Will  seize  upon  the  dark  and  lucky  hour 
To  be  together :  watch  you  round  the  house, 
And  suddenly  take  them  in  each  other's  arms. 
Gio.  This    plan    commends     itself     to    my    cold 

heart. 
Luc.  Here     comes     Francesca.       Shall     I     stay, 

then? 
Gio.         Stay ! 

Enter  FRANCESCA. 

FRANC.  Sir,  you  have  asked  for  me.     I   did   nol 

know 
You  were  so  soon  returned. 

Gio.  Soldiers'  returns 


96  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Are  sudden  and  oft  unexpected. 

FRANC.  Sir, 

How  pale  you  are  !     You  are  not  wounded  ? 

Gio.  No ! 

A   scratch    perhaps.      Give   me    some   wine,    Fran 

cesca, 
For  suddenly  I  must  be  gone  again. 

FRANC.  I  thought  this  broil  was  ended  ? 

Gio.  No  !  not  yet 

Some  days  I  may  be  absent,  and  can  go 
More  lightly  since  I  leave  you  not  alone. 
To  Paolo  I  commend  you,  to  my  brother. 
Loyal  he  is  to  me,  loyal  and  true. 
He  has  also  a  gaiety  of  mind 
Which  I  have  ever  lacked  :  he  is  beside 
More  suited  to  your  yearr,,  can  sing  and  play, 
And  has  the  art  long  hours  to  entertain. 
To  him  I  leave  you,  and  must  go  forthwith. 

\_He  makes  to  go,  then  titrnf 
Come  here,  Francesca,  kiss  me — yet  not  so, 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  97 

Vou  put  your  lips  up  to  me  like  a  child. 
FRANC.  'Tis  not  so  long  ago  I  was  a  child. 

[Seizing  his  arm. 

0  sir,  is  it  -wise,  is  it  well  to  go  away  ? 
Gio.  What  do  you  mean  ? 

FRANC.  I  have  a  terror  here. 

Gio.  Can  you  not  bear   to  part  with  me   some 

hours  ? 

FRANC.  I  dread  to  be  alone  :  I  fear  the  night 
And  yon  great  chamber,  the  resort  of  spirits. 

1  see  men  hunted  on  the  air  by  hottnds  •. 
Thin  faces  of  your  house,  with  weary  smiles. 
The  dead  who  frown  I  fear  not :  but  I  fear 
The  dead  who  smile  !     The  very  palace  rocks, 
Remembering  at  midnight,  and  I  see 
Women  within  these  walls  immured  alive 
Come  starving  to  my  bed  and  ask  for  food. 

Gib.  Take   some   one   then   to  sleep   with   you— 

Lucrezia, 
Or  little  Nita  else  :  lie  not  alone. 


98  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

FRANC.   [Still  detaining  him.~\  Yet  go  not,  sir. 
Gio.  What  is  it  that  you  fear  ? 

FRANC.  Sir,  go  not,  go  not ! 
Gio.  Child,  I  cannot  stay 

For  fancies,  and  at  once  I'll  say  farewell 
To  both  of  you.     I  hear  my  courser  fret. 

[Exit  GIOVANNI. 

FRANC.  [Looking  after  him,  and  turning  slowly '.] 
Lucrezia,  will  you  lie  with  me  to-night  ? 
Luc.  I  will,  Francesca,  if  you'll  have  it  so. 
FRANC.  O,  some   one    I   can   touch    in  the   thick 

night ! — 
What  sound  is  that  ? 

Luc.  [Going    to    window. ~\     Your    husband    gal- 
loping 
Away   into   the  dark  [She   looks  from  the  window^ 

then  turns~\  :  now  he  is  gone. 
I  left  young  Paolo  pacing  up  and  down ; 

[Looking  steadfastly  at  her. 
He  seemed  as  faint  for  company  as  you. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  99 

Say,  shall  I  call  him  in  as  I  go  out  ? 
He  will  help  waste  the  tardy  time. 

FRANC.  [Quickly.]  No,  no  ! 

Luc.  Is   there    some    little   feud  'twixt    you    and 

him  ? 

For  when  you  meet  words  slowly  come  to  you — 
You  scarce  look  in  each  other's  eyes. 

FRANC.  No  feud. 

Luc.  Remember,  when  Giovanni  married  you 
These  two  were  to  each  other  all  in  all ; 
And  so  excuse  some  natural  jealousy 
Of  you  from  him. 

FRANC.  I  think  he  means  me  well. 

Luc.  Then  shall  I  call  him  in  ? 

FRANC.  O,  why  so  eager  ? 

Where  would  all  those  about  me  drive  me  ?     First 
My  husband  earnestly  to  Paolo 
Commends  me ;  and  now  you  must  call  him  in. 
[  Wildly]  Where  can  I  look  for  pity  ?     Lucrezia, 
You  have  no  children  ? 


ioo  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Luc.  None. 

FRANC.  Nor  ever  had  ? 

Luc.  Nor  ever  had. 

FRANC.  But  yet  you  are  a  woman. 

I  have  no  mother  :  let  me  be  your  child 
To-night :  I  am  so  utterly  alone  ! 
Be  gentle  with  me ;  or  if  not,  at  least 
Let  me  go  home ;  this  world  is  difficult. 
O,  think  of  me  as  of  a  little  child 
That  looks  into  your  face,  and  asks  your  hand. 

[LUCREZIA  softly   touches   FRANCESCA'S 

hair.~\ 

Why  do  you  touch  my  head  ?     Why  do  you  weep  ? 
I  would  not  pain  you. 

Luc.  Ah,  Francesca  !     You 

Have  touched  me  where  my  life  is  quivering  most. 
I  have  no  child :  and  yet  if  I  had  borne  one 
I  could  have  wished  her  hair  had  been  this  colour. 

FRANC.  I  am  too  suddenly  cast  in  this  whirl ! 
Too  suddenly  !     I  had  but  convent  thoughts. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  101 

0  woman,  woman,  take  me  to  you  and  hold  me  ! 

[She  throws  herself  info  LUCREZIA'S  arms. 
Luc.  [Clasping  FRANCESCA   to  her.~\     At  last   the 

long  ice  melts,  and  O  relief 
Of  rain  that  rushes  from  me  !     Child,  my  child  ! 

1  clasp  you  close,  close — do  you  fear  me  still  ? 
Have  you  not  heard  love  is  more  fierce  than  hate  ? 
Roughly  I  grasp  what  I  have  hunted  long. 

You    cannot    know — how    should    you  ? — that    you 

are 
More,  so  much  more,  to  me  than  just  a  child. 

FRANC.  I  seem  to  understand  a  little. 

Luc.  Close, 

I  hold  you  close  :  it  was  not  all  in  vain, 
The  holy  babble  and  pillow  kissed  all  o'er ! 
O  my  embodied  dream  with  eyes  and  hair ! 
Visible  aspiration  with  soft  hands ; 
Tangible  vision  !     O,  art  thou  alive, 
Francesca,    dost  thou  move  and  breathe  ?      Speak, 
speak ! 


102  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Say  human  words  out,  lest  thou  vanish  quite  ! 

Your  very  flesh  is  of  my  sighs  composed, 

Your  blood  is  crimson  with  my  passioning  ! 

And    now    I    have    conceived    and    have     brought 

forth ; 

And  I  exult  in  front  of  the  great  sun  : 
And  I  laugh  out  with  riches  in  my  lap  ! 
And  you  will  deem  me  mad  !  but  do  not.  Sweet : 
I  am  not  mad,  only  J  am  most  happy. 
I'll  dry  my  tears — but  O,  if  thou  should'st  die  ? 
[Aside."}     And  ah  my  God  ! 

FRANC.  Why  did  you  start  ? 

Luc.  \_Aside.~\  To  stay  him  ! 

\To  FRANCESCA,  taking  her  hands, .]     But  I  should 

be  the  shadow  of  a  mother 
If  here  I  ceased.     Francesca,  I  well  know 
That  'twixt  bright  Paolo  and  dark  Giovanni 
You  stand — you  hinted  at  some  peril  there. 
I  ask  to  know  no  more  :  but  take  these  words — 
Be  not  in  company  with  Paolo 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  103 

To-night.     [Aside.']    Giovanni   must  be  found.     My 

child, 

I  have  some  business  on  the  moment,  but 
Within   the  hour  I  will  return [Aside.]     How 

find  him  ? 
And    sleep     with    you [Aside."]     I'll     search 

all  secret  places. 
Kiss   me.     Remember,   then !      \Aside^\      'Tis  not 

too  late  ! 
What  meshes  have  I  woven  for  what  I  love  ? 

[Exit  LUCREZIA. 

Enter  NITA  on  the  other  side,  with  a  lamp. 

NITA.  Lady,  shall  I  come  in  ? 

FRANC.  Set  the  lamp  here, 

Nita,  and  take  some  sewing :  I  am  alone 
To-night,  and  you  shall  sit  with  me  until 
Lucrezia  is  returned.  What  lamp  is  that  ? 

NITA.  It  is  the  same  I  set  you  in  the  arbour 
That  night  you  could  not  sleep.     ' 


104  PAOLO    AND   FRANCESCA 

FRANC.  Yes,  I  remember. 

NITA.  Are  you  unhappy,  mistress  ? 

FRANC.  I  am  lonely, 

Nita,  most  lonely. 

NITA.  That  were  easily — 

Pardon  the  saying,  mistress — remedied. 

FRANC.  And  how  ? 

NITA.  If  I  myself  were  married  young, 

Perhaps  without  my  leave  to  some  old  man, 
And  found  a  younger  gallant  in  the  house, 
I  think  I  would  not  shun  him. 

FRANC.  Well,  say  on. 

NITA.  No !     And  I  think  I  would  maintain  some 

show 

Of  love  to  my  grey  husband  :  it  is  easy 
To  keep  in  humour  an  old  man — a  kiss 
A  little  look,  a  word  will  satisfy, 
And  I  would  have  my  pleasure. 

FRANC.  I  have  listened 

So  far  to  you  :  you  do  not  understand. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  105 

O  Nita,  when  we  women  sin,  'tis  not 
By  art ;  it  is  not  easy,  it  is  not  light ; 
It  is  an  agony  shot  through  with  bliss  : 
We  sway  and  rock  and  suffer  ere  we  fall. 

[She  walks  up  and  down. 

NITA.  I  scarcely  understand,  my  lady.     I 
Am  ever  gay,  and  this  is  a  gay  world ; 
And  if  we  girls  are  prudent  but  a  little, 
Tis  easy  to  enjoy.  [A  knock. 

FRANC.  Who  knocked,  then  ?    See  ! 

NITA  [Going  to  door  and  returning^     It  is  Lord 
Paolo  who  asks  for  you. 

FRANC.     Tell    him    I    cannot    see    him.      Is    he 
gone  ? 

NITA.  Yes,  and  so  sad  !     He    sighed  so  [sighi\t 

and  he  went. 
Shall  I  now  call  him  back  ? 

FRANC.  No,  no  !     Sit  down. 

[Speaking  quickly.'}  Tell  me  some  story,  Nita. 

NITA.  Alas  !  I  cannot : 


io6  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Only  the  village  talk  I  can  repeat, 
And  how 

FRANC.    [Starting.]    Listen !     What   step   is    that 

without  ? 

A  sad  step,  and  it  goeth  to  and  fro. 
Look  out ! 

NITA.         It  is  Lord  Paolo,  my  lady. 

FRANC.     [Quickly]     Come    from     the    windo\\ 

[Aside]  O  where  tarries  she, 
This  new-found  mother  ?    Tell  me  then  this  tale  ! 

NITA.  Lucia,  my  sister,  has  a  lover  whom 
She  thought  so  true  :  but  he  the  other  night 

FRANC.  Listen  again  ! 

PAD.  [  Without]  Francesca  ! 

NITA.  Tis  his  voice  ! 

My  lady,  you  are  trembling  ! 

FRANC.  [Aside]  Why  did  he 

Speak  ?    The     sweet     sound     has    floated    to    my 
brain. 

PAO.  Francesca ! 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  107 

FRANC.  \_Aside.~]  Soft  it  comes  out  of  the  night. 
Go  to  the  window,  Nita.     What  says  he  ? 

NITA.  He   does   entreat   he  may  come  in  to  you 

A  moment.     Shall  I  answer  ? 

FRANC.  [  Walking  to  and  fro  and  putting  her  hand 
to  her  heart^\  Let  him  come. 

NITA.    I  will  go  tell  him.     [Aside.]     They'll  not 

want  me :  I 
Can  meet  Bernardo  now.  {Exit  NITA. 

FRANC.  O  voice  too  sweet ! 

And  like  the  soul  of  midnight  sending  words  ! 
Now  all  the  world  is  at  her  failing  hour, 
And  at  her  faintest :  now  the  pulse  is  low  ! 
Now  the  tide  turns,  and  now  the  soul  goes  home  ! 
And  I  to  Paolo  am  fainting  back  ! 
A  moment — but  a  moment — then  no  more  ! 

Enter  PAOLO. 

PAO.  I  am  by  music  led  into  this  room, 
And  beckoned  sweetly :  all  the  breezes  die 


io8  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Round  me,  and  in  immortal  ecstasy 

Toward  thee  I  move  :  now  am  I  free  and  gay— - 

Light  as  a  dancer  when  the  strings  begin. 

FRANC.  What  glow  is  on   thy  face,  what   sudden 
light  ? 

PAO.  It  seems  that  I  am  proof  against  all  perils. 

FRANC.  And  yet  I  fear  to  see  thy  air  so  glad. 

PAO.  To-night    all    points    of    swords    to    me  are 
dull. 

FRANC.  And    still    I    dread    the    bravery  of  your 

words. 
Kiss  me,  and  leave  me,  Paolo,  to-night. 

PAO.  What  do  you  fear  ? 

FRANC.  One  watches  quietly. 

PAO.  Who  ? 

FRANC.  1  know  not :  perhaps  the  quiet  face 

Of  God  :  the  eternal  Listener  is  near. 

PAO.    I'll   struggle   now    no    more.     Have   I   not 

fought 
Against  thee  as  a  foe  most  terrible  ? 


PAOLO  AND  FRANCESCA  109 

Parried  the  nimble  thrust  and  thought  of  thee, 
And  from  thy  mortal  sweetness  fled  away, 
Yet  evermore  returned  ?     Now  all  the  bonds 
Which  held  me  I  cast  off — honour,  esteem, 
All  ties,  all  friendships,  peace,  and  life  itself. 
You  only  in  this  universe  I  want. 

FRANC.  You    fill    me    with    a    glorious    rashness. 

What! 
Shall  we  two,  then,  take  up  our  fate  and  smile  ? 

PAO.  Remember    how    when    first    we    met    we 

stood 

Stung  with  immortal  recollections. 
O  face  immured  beside  a  fairy  sea, 
That  leaned  dov/n  at  dead  midnight  to  be  kissed ! 
O  beauty  folded  up  in  forests  old  ! 
Thou      wast      the      lovely      quest      of      Arthur's 
knights 

FRANC.    Thy   armour    glimmered    in   a  gloom   of 
green. 

PAO.  Did  I  not  sing  to  thee  in  Babylon  ? 


I  io  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

FRANC.  Or  did  we  set  a  sail  in  Carthage  Bay  ? 

PAO.  Were  thine  eyes  strange  ? 

FRANC.  Did  I  not  know  thy  voice  ? 

All  ghostly  grew  the  sun,  unreal  the  air 
Then  when  we  kissed. 

PAO.  And  in  that  kiss  our  souls 

Together  flashed,  and  now  they  are  one  flame, 
Which  nothing  can  put  out,  nothing  divide. 

FRANC.  Kiss    me  again  !    I   smile    at   what  may 
chance. 

PAO.  Again,  and  yet  again  !   and  here  and  here. 
Let  me  with  kisses  burn  this  body  away, 
That  our  two  souls  may  dart  together  free. 
I  fret  at  intervention  of  the  flesh, 
And  I  would  clasp  you — you  that  but  inhabit 
This  lovely  house. 

FRANC.  Break  open  then  the  door, 

And  let  my  spirit  out.     Paolo,  kill  me  ! 
Then  kill  thyself:   to  vengeance  leave  these  weeds, 
And  let  our  souls  together  soar  away. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  in 

PAO.   [Recoiling.']   You  are  too  beautiful  for  human 
blow.  [FRANCESCA  starts. 

Why  did  you  shiver  and  turn  sudden  cold  ? 

FRANC.    \_Stowfy.~\    I  felt  a  wind  pass  over  me. 

PAO.  I  too : 

Colder  than  any  summer  night  could  give. 

FRANC.  A  solitary  wind  :  and  it  hath  passed. 

PAO.    [Embracing  her."]    Do  you  still  fear  ? 

FRANC.  Ah,  Paolo  !  if  we 

Should  die  to-night,  then  whither  would  our  souls 
Repair  ?     There  is  a  region  which  priests  tell  of 
Where  such  as  we  are  punished  without  end. 

PAO.  Were  we  together,  what  can  punish  us  ? 

FRANC.  Nothing !     Ah,  think  not  I  can  love  you 

less — 
Only  I  fear. 

PAO.  What  can  we  fear,  we  two  ? 

O  God,  Thou  seest  us  Thy  creatures  bound 
Together  by  that  law  which  holds  the  stars 
In  palpitating  cosmic  passion  bright; 


112  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

By  which  the  very  sun  enthrals  the  earth, 

And  all  the  waves  of  the  world  faint  to  the  moon 

Even  by  such  attraction  we  two  rush 

Together  through  the  everlasting  years. 

Us,  then,  whose  only  pain  can  be  to  part, 

How  wilt  Thou  punish  ?     For  what  ecstasy 

Together  to  be  blown  about  the  globe  ! 

What  rapture  in  perpetual  fire  to  burn 

Together  ! — where  we  are  is  endless  fire. 

There  centuries  shall  in  a  moment  pass, 

And  all  the  cycles  in  one  hour  elapse  ! 

Still,  still  together,  even  when  faints  Thy  sun, 

And  past  our  souls  Thy  stars  like  ashes  fall, 

How  wilt  Thou  punish  us  who  cannot  part  ? 

FRANC.    I   lie   out    on    your  arm    and    say  youi 

name — 
«  Paolo  !  "     "  Paolo  ! " 

PAO.  "  Francesca  ! " 

\They  slowly  pass  through  the  curtains. 
A  pause. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  113 

Enter  NITA. 

NITA.  Ah ! 

Where  are  my  lady  and  Lord  Paolo  ? 
Gone  out  into  the  moonlight !     It  is  well 
For  her  to  meet  her  lover  when  she  choose  : 
And  I  must  run  in  from  Bernardo's  arms. 
Tis  very  late  !     I'll  sit  and  end  this  sewing — 
I   cannot   work.     \Walks   up   and  down^      Where 
can  my  mistress  be  ? 

[NiTA  touches  abstractedly  the  strings  of  a 
mandolin. 

LUCREZIA  enters  hurriedly. 

Luc.  \_AsideJ]  O  !  he  is  subtly  hidden — and  where? 

— and  where  ? 

I  have  set  that  on  which  now  I  cannot  stay. 
Nita,  you  are  alone  !     Where  is  your  mistress  ? 

NITA.  I  cannot  tell,  my  lady. 

Luc.  Look  in  my  eyes  ! 

You  left  her  ? 

8 


114  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

NITA.  But  a  moment. 

Luc.  And  alone  ? 

NITA.  Lord  Paolo 

Luc.   [Seizing  her  arm.~\  Ah  ! 

NITA.  My  lady,  hurt  me  not 

Luc.  Stammer  the  truth  out ! 

NITA.  He  came  to  the  door — 

Luc.  No  further  ? 

NITA.  And  she  sighed  out,  "  Let  him  come." 

Luc.  And  you  left  them  together  ? 

NITA.  I  went  out 

Luc.  Together   then  !      Now,   now !      Quick,   dry 

those  tears 
For  we  must  use  our  wit. 

NITA.  And  you,  too,  tremble  ! 

Luc.  And  he — Lord  Malatesta  ? 

NITA.  Know  you  not 

He  hath  ridden  off  to  the  camp  ? 

Luc.  But  might  return  J 

NITA.  [Trembling.]  O  !  but  he  must  not ! 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  115 

Luc.  Yet  some  accident 

NITA.  There    would    be    noise    and    stir    at  his 

return. 
Luc.  You    have    heard    no  sound  ?      Remember 

fiercely !     Nothing  ? 

I  do  not  mean  of  hooves,  nor  armour  chink — 
You  have  heard  not  even  a  step? 

NITA.  \_Tremb 'ling -.]  What  mean  you  ? — No. 
Luc.  Not  even  a  soft  step  ? 

NITA.  I  am  faint  with  fear* 

[She  staggers. 
Luc.  [Seizing     her     hand."]     Which     way     went 

they,   these   two  ? 
NITA.  I  cannot  tell. 

Luc.  This    door    is     fast ! — then     through     the 

curtains  ? 
NITA.  Yes. 

Luc.  They  seem   to  tremble    still !      Come  with 

me,  quick ! 
NITA.  I  am  faint. 


Ii6  PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA 

Luc.  Come  with  me. 

[She  drags  her  to  the  curtain. 

Ah  !  whose  hand  is  that  ? 

[GIOVANNI,  parting   the   curtains  from    the 

other  side,  comes  slowly  through. 
NITA.  O,  sir !   we  had   not   thought  you  back   so 

soon. 

Gio.  Where  is  your  mistress  ? 
NITA.  Sir,  I  cannot  tell. 

Gio.   Is  it  not  time  you  dressed  her  all  in  white, 
And  combed  out  her  long  hair  as  for  a  sleep  ? 
NITA.  ;Tis  past  the  hour. 

Gio.  You  have  a  curl  awry, 

And  falling  o'er  your  eyebrow — bind  it  up. 
NITA.  I  cannot,  sir. 

Gio.  Well,  leave  us  :  when  your  mistress 

Is  ready,  I  will  call  for  you. 

[Exit  NITA.  There  is  a  pause,  in  which 
GIOVANNI  and  LUCREZIA  gaze  at  each 
other. 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  117 

Luc.  [  Going  slowly  up  to  him.']  O,  sir  ! 
I    would    beseech    of     you —      [She    starts."]    ah ! 

Giovanni, 

You  have   hurt   your  hand  :    there's   blood   upon  it 
here.  [Takes  his  hand  and  looks  at  it. 

Gio.  'Tis  not  my  blood  ! 

Luc.  O,  then 

Gio.  "  O,  then  !  "  is  all. 

[As  in  a  frenzy."]  And   now   their  love  that  was  so 

secret  close 

Shall  be  proclaimed.  Tullio,  Carlo,  Biagi ! — 
They  shall  be  married  before  all  men.  Nita  ! 
Rouse  up  the  house  and  bring  in  lights,  lights, 

lights ! 

There  shall  be  music,  feasting  and  dancing. 
Wine    shall    be    drunk.      Candles,    I    say !      More 

lights! 
More     marriage     lights !      Where     tarry    they     the 

while, 
The  nuptial  tapers  ?    Rouse  up  all  the  house  ! 


Ii8  PAOLO   AND    FRANCESCA 

[All  this  while  SERVANTS  and  others,  half 

dressed,     are   continually   rushing  in 

with  lights  and  torches.     They  stand 

whispering. 

Gio.  [Slowly.'}  Carlo,  go  through  the  curtains,  and 

pass  in 

To  the  great  sleeping-chamber :  you  shall  find 
Two  there  together  lying  :  place  them,  then, 
Upon  some  litter  and  have  them  hither  brought 
With  ceremony. 

[Exeunt  CARLO  and  Four  SERVANTS. 
GIOVANNI  paces  to  and  fro. 

The  curse,  the  curse  of  Cain  ! 
A  restlessness  has  come  into  my  blood, 
And  I  begin  to  wander  from  this  hour 
Alone  for  evermore. 

Luc.  [Rushing  to  him.~\  Giovanni,  say 
Quickly  some  light  thing,  lest  we  both  go  mad  ! 

Gio.  Be  still !     A  second  wedding  here  begins, 
And  I  would  have  all  reverent  and  seemly : 


PAOLO   AND   FRANCESCA  119 

For  they  were  nobly  bora,  and  deep  in  love. 

Enter  blind  ANGELA,  slowly. 

ANG.    Will  no   one    take   my  hand  ?    Two  lately 

dead 
Rushed     past    me    in    the     air.      O  !     Are    there 

not 

Many  within  this  room  all  standing  still  ? 
What  are  they  all  expecting  ? 

Gio.  Lead  her  aside : 

I  hear  the  slow  pace  of  advancing  teet. 

Enter  SERVANTS  bearing  in  PAOLO  and  FRANCESCA  dead 

upon  a  litter. 
Luc.  Ah  !  ah  !  ah  ! 

Gio.  Break  not  out  in  lamentation  ! 

\A  pause  .  .  .  The  SERVANTS  set  down  the 

litter. 

Luc.  \_Going  to  litter  ^\  I  have  borne  one  child,  and 
she  has  died  in  youth  ! 


120  PAOLO  AND   FRANCESCA 

Gio.    [Going  to  litter  ^\    Not  easily  have  we  three 

come  to  this — 

"Ve  three  who  now  are  dead.     Unwillingly 
They  loved,  unwillingly  I  slew  them.     Now 
I  kiss  them  on  the  forehead  quietly. 

[He   bends    over    the    bodies    and   kisses 
them  on  the  forehead.    He  is  shaken. ,] 
Luc.  What  ails  you  now  ? 

Gio.  She  takes  away  my  strength 

I  did  not  know  the  dead  could  have  such  hair. 
Hide  them.     They  look  like  children  fast  asleep  ! 

[  The  bodies  are  reverently  covered  over^t 


CURTAIN 


llll     ll  '''' ''  •         r-    Q  Q  fi 


« 


